New friends

There are about ten rows of tables that run the length of the room. One of them, the left-most one, is raised by a few steps. There are already more than a hundred people having lunch, all in uniforms. We are a little bit spotty in this decor, but the captain still invites us to sit at the first table in front of us. For his part, he goes to another table a little further away where he sits with other captains. So I sit down with my friends at the corner of the table and we start to eat a kind of fish soup with a vegetable salad.

-You have captured the size of the dining room?! hallucine Wistom.

-Yeah and also the number of people sitting around us. Bidding Hirion.

-So make an effort not to be noticed. And Hirion puts your towel in your lap. Says Lyra.

-Yes mummy. Answer Hirion in a mocking tone.

-In any case, we are entitled to a great meal.

-I agree with you Myo, it's very refined. Underlines Lyra.

-This soup was very good in the end, despite the fish in it. Said Hirion, holding back a little burp.

-But are you finished already? You're a monster. exclaimed Wistom.

-You could say you were hungry, I barely started mine. I said to him.

-And I wouldn't mind a second soup instead of this salad. Hirion continues, holding her stomach.

-Stop for a while and eat your lettuce. You were complaining not even ten minutes ago about the fact that there should be some. Call Lyra back.

-Well I've changed my mind Madam. Reply Hirion.

-Here, take mine if you want.

The person who just spoke to Hirion is a young girl with brown hair and a square cut. She has blue eyes and a long green scarf around her neck.

-Great! I'm so hungry. exclaims Hirion, taking the plate she hands him and he attacks directly.

-Thank you, Hirion. It's very kind of you to do this. I said to her.

-And you say thank you at least. Wistom Rail giving him a light blow behind his head.

-Excuse our companion, we haven't finished his education yet. Underlines Lyr a.

-Oh it's nothing. By the way. Are you new? Because I've never seen you before. Says the lady.

-Yes, we just arrived today. Answer Wistom.

-Ah, I thought so. And what are your pet names? She asks us.

-My name is Wistom. The little brat's name is Hirion...

-Enchambered. Answer Hirion with a full mouth.

-And in front of you, it is Lyra and Myo, my brother. And what about you? Finishes saying Wistom.

-My name is Charlotte. It's already four years since I joined the army.

-In four years, you must have seen a lot of things and you arrived alone? I'll ask her.

-Yes indeed, but I haven't experienced them alone, I've been accompanied since my arrival by two other friends, Amelia on my left and Solveig right next to you.

We are exchanging the usual courtesies with these two friends. Amelia is a girl with blue hair and she has a pale complexion. Her eyes are hazelnut and she is very smiling and listens carefully to our conversation. Just the opposite of Solveig, his skin is black and he has his eyes lost in his glass of water. He has barely picked up a hello, but we get nothing more from him.

-Don't blame Solveig, he's not recovering from his umpteenth defeat to Captain Haka.

-Did you face him alone? Wistom asks, almost choking on his salad.

-Yes, I did. Solveig simply answers him.

-So that's how it was. Wistom continues, holding his breath.

-Like a defeat.

-You're too hard on yourself. The captain didn't hesitate to use his power and you lasted more than ten minutes in the arena with him. Say Charlotte to try to make him feel better.

-Charlotte stops. He kept his arms behind his back and only used his legs to beat me. It was a humiliation. Let Solveig go and get angry.

-Wistom, now I hope you understand how far you have to go if you want to beat him in the arena too. I say to him.

-Well, I wish you a lot of courage my boy. I've been training for four years and I still haven't managed to hurt him. Let go of Solveig a little depressed.

-There has to be a way. Retorque Wistom.

-No my man. There's an abyss between us and the Captains. And that abyss is nothing compared to the one between us and the Commanders. Reply Solveig.

-Don't abandon Wistom. I'm sure you have what it takes to defeat him. But first you'll have to train hard and think before going headlong. Said Lyra.

-It's going to be impossible for her to think. It is better that he gives up. Hirion mocks gently.

-Ah yes, Mr. Goinfre, let's see what you're going to say about that. Wistom exclaims, sticking his face in the soup to drown him.

The reply makes us die of laughter when finally, Hirion, after struggling, takes his soaked and green head out of the soup. While we are all laughing, except Hirion who never stops grumbling, we don't notice a big man coming up behind Wistom's back. He is wearing the captain's epaulettes on his grey suit. He has white hair stuck back and a moustache and a well-cut goatee. He walks with a cane in his right hand and the left one is hidden behind his back. A green pendant he wears on his lavaliere intrigues me. I think I see a face drawn on the inside.

-If you want to fight, there are places for that gentlemen. The captain tells him.

Wistom turns around instantly and understands the situation very quickly.

-Please excuse my friend and me. We won't do it again.

-I hope not. Otherwise I will be forced to teach you a lesson that will make you the first two men to get a skeleton completely in pieces.

And he resumes his walk behind Wistom and Hirion to sit at another table where one of the captains waved to him.

-I thought he was going to smash my skull against the table. Said Wistom trembling.

-So did I. He remained calm and threatened to atomize us like a dessert order. Continues Hirion trembling.

-Here's one you mustn't upset. I said to Charlotte.

-Yes, you shouldn't. Captain Alfredo is known for his rather primitive way of instilling discipline in soldiers. The last time one of the recruits fought in front of him, he hit her so hard with his cane that he flew for almost ten metres before spreading out on the ground with three broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. He can't stand people arguing, let alone in front of him.

-Sorry Hirion. Never again will I put your head on your plate. Said Wistom.

-I will be careful on my side not to make fun of you at the Wistom table. Hirion answers him.

Officers are very good-natured. I stress to Charlotte.

-Indeed, but that's what it takes if you want to manage more than two hundred people with extraordinary powers. she says.

-All the people here have powers? I ask her.

-No, some are here to train to become lieutenants. I would say that a little more than a quarter of us have powers, but as far as the captains and their superiors are concerned, they all have powers. She admits.

-And they are hell of a warrior in the field. Adds Amelia.

-Have you ever fought with one of them? Ask Lyra.

-Yes, with Captain Wolfburn leading our little team. It must be said that they really know how to fight. It even seems that some captains deliberately went under the Rey's cloud to...

-Amelia! You know very well that the captain told us to keep it for ourselves. I'm sorry. It's nothing against you, but we've been asked to keep it a secret. Interrupt Solveig.

-No worries. We're the ones asking too many questions.

-That's normal. It's your first day. We were the same as you, asking questions all the time and to everyone. Afterwards you get used to this place. Says Charlotte.

I see the captain sitting at the table, about twenty metres away, he waves me over. So I apologise to those at my table and stand up. I pass the first two tables that are reserved for the NCOs and continue on my way to the captains' table. Their table is sumptuous, and I get a little buggy when I notice that their dishes are regenerating as they devour them. Captain Okata, for his part, is enjoying lobster next to a real force of nature that must be easily two metres tall and over a hundred kilos of muscle.

-Myo come closer. Captain Islay has just told me that she has information about the sale of stolen works of art. This will be perfect as a first mission, even though I had planned to train you for a few days before going into the field. But I have the endorsement of Commander Tom-Tom so we will be able to get underway first thing tomorrow morning. Is it working?

-Yes, Captain.

-Perfect, so we'll meet at the level at 0700 hours sharp. Is that understood?

-Yes, Captain.

So I turn around and sit down at the table to tell them the news.

-Is there a problem? asks Hirion immediately.

-It's not because of Hirion and me anyway? Pursues Wistom a little panicked.

-But no, but no. I have good news and bad news to tell you.

-Whoa. Start with the bad. Worries Lyra.

-The bad news is that we're leaving tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock. I'll tell them.

-And the good one ? Lyra asks herself.

-We're going to get out of this place and see the country. I tell her.

-That's great. I'd like to see a sky now, it's a bit too perfect here. Underlines Hirion.

-If you ask me, I feel like we're going to have a great time outside.

With those words, we stand up and follow the rest of the group out of the room. When we come out, a tall black-skinned man walks towards us. It's the same captain who was sitting next to Okata during the meal.

-Hello, my name is Captain Mongo, I am in charge of holding level -2 among other things. This is where you can find your bed as well as several rooms to relax or do sports. Please follow me.

We obey and greet Charlotte and her group as they leave for the upper floors. The captain asks us a few questions to find out how we feel and if we are not too stressed at the thought of leaving tomorrow morning on a mission. He is rather relaxed and friendly for a captain, compared to those we have met so far of course.

We pass in front of level -1 which is a kind of hospital and science centre. Then we continue to level -2, there seems to be 8 levels in all, but not all of them are accessible to us. We can only go from level -2 to the second floor and only the hospital part of level -1 is allowed to us.

Level -2 is more down to earth and that's not so bad. The ceiling height is reasonable, this floor is in the form of a long corridor where the girls' dormitories are on the left and the boys' dormitories are on the right. At the end of the corridor, we come to two doors, the one on the right leads to a nice library where some people study while others just chat over a cup of tea. Behind the door on the right it's quite different, it's a huge sports centre, cricket field, weight training structure, gymnastics. A paradise for sportsmen like Wistom who dream of trying out all the machines. For my part, I'd like to take a look at the library to find out more about the Nuage de Rey.

-Well, the visit is over. If you have any questions about this floor, come and see me. If you also have problems with some of your classmates, come and talk to me and I will take care of the conflict. Avoid fighting, or do it when there are no captains around, which is usually the case, otherwise you risk severe punishment. Have I made myself clear?

-Yes, my captain. We all answer in chorus.

-All right, good afternoon to you. We say Captain Mongo.

And he goes into the corridor to go up the stairs.

-What do we do now? Ask for Hirion.

-I propose that we split up, this afternoon we'd better take advantage of the opportunity to relax quietly. I tell them.

-Fine, and I'd like to go to the side of the library to read books about rare plants. Answer Hirion.

-Fine, I'll go and rest in the girls' dormitory. This training has killed me and if I don't get some sleep I'll be useless tomorrow. Yawn Lyra.

-For my part, I'm going to do some weight training to maintain my body and see a bit of the sportsmen and women here. Wistom exclaims as he stretches himself.

-For my part, I'm going to follow Hirion. I would like to learn more about the Cloud of Rey. Shall we meet for dinner then? I propose to them.

Everyone nods and we all go our separate ways. Hirion follows me to the library and we start our research. It's rather large, three hundred square metres I would say. The books are arranged by style, short story, science fiction, fantasy, cooking, ... Hirion finally finds the section that fascinates him, botany. I continue my research. Maybe in history ? The books are arranged by author, but no title mentions the Cloud of Rey.

-Can I help you? Say a voice behind me.

Then I turn around and face a man who must be in his early twenties, in a dark grey suit with a strange gold epaulette on his right shoulder in the shape of a bird's beak, it supports a blue cloth, which comes close to the ground.

-Hello, I'm looking for a book about the Cloud of Rey. But I can't find any book that doesn't mention it here. I say to him.

-Indeed, the fact is that the only documents that talk about it are in the scientific area on level -1.

-Are they? Why not leave them in free access?

-It's because of the government. They are very reluctant to let the whole world know about the presence of the Rey's Cloud. They are afraid of a panic movement, they say.

-I don't quite understand.

-Imagine if everyone tomorrow learns that it is possible for some people to heal simply by touching the sick person, that others can transform objects into gold, that another can come back to life and then seek to feed on humans. What would people do? They might fear attacks, wars. To avoid this, for nearly thirty years the government has been closely following the apparitions of the Cloud on the continent and has been trying to stem the deviant as they like to call us. It's convenient for a lot of people that we don't exist in the eyes of the law. Outside these walls, we are soldiers like any other and only the army and the nobles know that we exist and that we act with certain capacities on the ground.

-But there are many people who see you act sometimes?

-Yes, but the fact that someone says they have seen people flying and throwing flames through their hands proves nothing. But indeed, one day this little game will have to stop. There are some areas where rumours are starting to spread a lot. Finally, what do you want? It's nothing but politics. And as for the book you are looking for, I cannot give you access to it.

-I understand that. Could you tell me who else could give it to me?

-The only thing that could give you access to it is the rank of lieutenant at a minimum.

-That's too bad.

-Look... normally I wouldn't have to. But for once, if anyone's interested in the Cloud of Rey, and it's through the library. I'd like to tell you a few things about him.

The librarian looks left and right before saying to me.

-The cloud appeared about thirty years ago and nobody knows how. Afterwards, the government created a special centre to study it and train the people who survived it.

-This is where we are now.

-Yes, basically the government didn't know what to do with the deviants. Then a nobleman called Uzaku proposed to use them as super soldiers. The members of the council around the emperor were a bit reluctant but the proposal was finally adopted. Four big poles were founded, one in the East, one in the North, one in the West and finally in the South where we are. Each is in constant communication with the others and each is led by a commander, Moonfleet in the East, Suzy who was the first woman commander appointed in the whole army and who leads the North, Sherry in the West and finally Uzaku in the South. The appearance of the Cloud of Rey has long been seen as a curse but recently another theory has emerged, some people think that...

-Srova! There's Colonel Berrin looking for you. The man who just interrupted the librarian doesn't look very convenient. He is in a large metal armour that completely hides his body.

-I'll be right there. I can't tell you any more at the moment, sorry.

-That's all right, thank you for your help.

And they are both leaving the library. Ah! That's too bad! Now I come across someone who has the information I wanted but who doesn't have time to talk to me. But it doesn't matter, I've already learned a lot about why I've never heard of this phenomenon. And I also know that some scientists are studying the phenomenon and that they are beginning to establish theories. It's not so bad after all. I will have to go and see Hirion to see if he has got his hands on anything interesting too. So I wander between the rows and go back to botany. And I find Hirion again but he is talking to a very nice girl. She has brown hair and a plum-coloured outfit. She also has a sword in her scabbard and she listens to Hirion speak with delight. I have the impression that he is giving her a course on plants. I don't dare bother them too much and then I decide to go for it.

-Hi Hirion, you found something interesting in the library. I said it while greeting her neighbour.

-Yes, it's just amazing what they have about studying the behaviour of plants in a wide variety of environments. It was while leafing through one of the books that I met Elise. Elise, this is Myo, one of my best friends.

-Pleased to meet you Elise. I said to her.

-Nice to meet you too. She answered me with a smile. But that's not all, but I'm going to have to practice swordplay. If you want to come after Hirion, it will be with great pleasure.

-Uh, well, I ... Stammered Hirion.

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-We will be delighted. We'll join you in a few minutes if you want. I tell him to help Hirion who is no longer able to articulate properly.

-Great, see you later.

And she goes away whistling while Hirion stays there admiring her leaving.

-Hirion? Are you still there? I ask her.

-Er... Yes, yes. Why am I here? he answers me.

-Well simply because I had the impression that for a few seconds your brain had disconnected to go away with this charming young woman.

-But, but not at all. I don't know what you mean at all. You are ridiculous.

-Don't worry about it. I'll keep this to myself.

-But you haven't kept anything to yourself. Answer Hirion as she gets redder and redder.

-It doesn't matter. On the contrary, it was very cute to see you both.

-You're talking nonsense. So, did you learn more about the Cloud of Rey?

-A little bit, yes. But not enough for my taste.

-What did you learn?

-That what Captain Soryo told us is true and that there are four centres, one in the South, one in the West, one in the North and one in the East. Each one is headed by a general and ours is General Uzaku's. I also know that they are studying the cloud and that the government is doing everything to ensure that it remains a legend in the eyes of the people of the continent. And that if I want more information, I'll have to reach the rank of lieutenant.

-Not bad. Maybe we'll learn more from Captain Akota.

-Maybe... We'll go to the training room to see what happens to Wistom and your dear Elise.

-…

Hirion finishes resting her books on the shelves and we leave the library to enter the training room. As in the previous room, the sky is beautiful and a few clouds come to decorate it. There are quite a few people who train by doing weight training or fighting with wooden weapons. I notice Wistom fighting with another person. They both have a bo in their hands and they both turn around and wait for one of them to strike first.

In the end, it is Wistom who tries his luck first by rushing forward. He shouts and melts the air in front of him. His opponent doesn't move and keeps his bo in front of him. At the last moment, he hits the back of his bo on the ground and rises into the air, passing just to the left side of Wistom who misses his attack. His opponent rolls to the side and gets back into position. He's not as strong as my brother and he's well aware that we'll have to play on his agility if he wants to get out of it. Finally, he changes his posture and waves his bo forward.

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Wistom takes this as a mark of challenge and sprints towards him again. Shortly before Wistom comes into contact with him, he decides to swing his weapon forward and hits the ground with the tip of the bo to propel himself up into the air again. But Wistom, instead of continuing his run, stops dead in his tracks and throws himself back into the air to try to hit him. Both bo slap violently and almost break.

They both fall back to the ground and get up again very quickly.

-You'll have to decide to try your luck. Said Wistom.

-I won't try to hit you. I'll do it once and that's final. His opponent replies.

They both raise their bo above their heads and slowly move towards each other without lowering their guard. Once he is more than a metre away, Wistom tries to hit him in the face but he leaves, his next blow goes to his wrist this time but his opponent also leaves him. Wistom loses patience and starts to hit one after the other at high speed, but neglects his defence. The other soldier takes advantage of this to hit him with the flat of his foot inside his left knee, which throws him off balance, then he adorns his last one at his shoulder with his weapon, finally pushing it back, leaving the field clear to hit Wistom right in the face. The blow is such that it is swept over two metres.

-And it's lost. Try the new one. But nobody can beat me at this game. said the soldier to him with a superior air.

-I can. Says a voice in the group around us who has gathered to enjoy the fight.

-Well, I'm waiting to see. Exclaims the soldier.

Then a woman comes out of the group, it's Elise.

-What are the rules of your little game? she asks as she walks up to her future opponent.

-You choose the wooden weapon of your choice and we fight with the same one. The aim is to give a blow to her opponent, the first hit has lost. Simple, isn't it? he replies.

-It looks that way to me. Are we allowed to use our powers?

-No. No powers during the fight.

-So you don't have any powers?

-Yes, but in these fights, no one is allowed to use them.

-I see. I see. No wonder you don't want others to use them.

-What are you talking about?

-You'll see what I mean. I suggest that we each take a wooden Nodachi.

-A Nodachi? But nobody uses it.

-What's happening? Are you afraid of me?

-Know that Yangebe fears no one and especially not a woman. The soldier answers him.

-Well, things are going to change Yangebe. Elise exclaims with a smile on her face.