- Ouch! That was violent!

Mijuu’s crystal-like laugh ringed in Camille’s ears. The girl rolled next to her, bringing with one hand the holo-screen she was glued on. Waiting for the upcoming curfew, the trainees were relaxing in Camille’s bed. The two had the bad idea of watching their last training session’s replay, looking for ways to improve. Now, the dreadlocks girl was hardly breathing, her cheek hurting after the previous minutes spent laughing.

- Was it the one on the rock? Camille asked with a pinched face. I held quite some time there.

Mijuu confirmed with a hefty nod. Her hand moved across her friend’s hairs as if trying to brush away the sadness over her face.

- Don’t worry, snipe. I know you can do much better. I was surprised you held so long after your squad abandoned you. With a good one, you could score better than any of us.

- I hope your right Mij, Camille puffed. It’s still better than getting team-killed. I guess you have not been shot yet.

- Not by my squadmates. But I had that guy, Crazy Madz, the scary sul’doth with a scar. He killed our squad leader because he gave him an order. I was number two, but I never dared to tell any order after that.

- Have you two been in command once? Gwen asked from the front of the bed.

The silver-haired noble was also resting with them, using Camille’s knees as pillows for her head. The cute girl had taken the time to tie her shinning hairs into two long twin tail. Just looking at her made Camille’s heart flutter. How could her friend be so lovely in the dull military fatigue?

- I was, Mijuu spoke with a grin. We got destroyed. I felt like Karin in a theme park, totally lost.

- the same, laughed Gwen. I even ordered one of my squadmates to cross a minefield by mistake. I should say something to him.

While listening, Camille twitched in place. Everyone had taken once the role of squad leader among her friends. She was always kept away from it, and she knew why. Sibelle was responsible for the squad arrangement.

- So lucky. I’m always number seven, she sighed. Even if I could take command, they would be no one else left in the squad.

The standard squad of the federation army was composed of seven soldiers. The trainees were following the same structure, using number to complete their missing rank. The team and number changed with each exercise, but Camille always finished as number six or seven. After all, Sibelle was not about to forgive the girl’s imaginary crime.

- What a harpy, whispered Mijuu under her breath. If Sibelle allowed you to command a squad, I’m sure you would do well. You are clever than us and even compete with Tavis.

Hearing about the boys made Camille switch her gaze to Ender. The nog’lon was in his bed, chatting with his friend with the base inner-com. In the last few days, he had become closer to the almost noble as they shared many interests. At the same times, Sevos had drifted toward the girls. The strange gorilla never finished amazing Camille. Under his goofy personality, a golden heart was hidden.

- O my god! Look at this one! It’s crazy!

The two dark-haired girls raised their head to watch Gwen send her holo-screen their way with her natural enthusiasm. They watched the short clip, head against each other, and dropped the same amazed noise when the action started. Out of ammunition, one of their comrades fought off a pack of blue wolves with only its fist. In the simulation, the trainees were not fighting each other. The main danger was replicas of old vlin’ns war beast. The only one they had fought for the moment was the weak war dog. Camille was not about to forget her first meeting with them.

First, the creatures were horrible—pale skin covered with purples bones; mouth filled with saw-like teeth—nothing a soft noble girl should see in her life. Clearly, Camille was no longer one. She had met the spawn of hell created by vlin’ns mad scientist with the same vigour as her comrade—with a hail of blue laser, followed by a rain of swearing when the beast chopped her first squad into pieces. At the end of the first day, the girl was glad the war was over. The monstrous kind was almost extinct, and she respected twice much those like Lesskov, who had fought the conflict.

- Just how? Mijuu asked while starting the clip over. I tried to use my knife one time, and once is enough. It’s not possible to kill them like that.

Camille had also tried to punch away a war dog. She knew how Mijuu’s words were right, an indisputable reality that every trainee had faced the last few days. However, the video’s protagonist defied it. Not only he resisted for a while, but he managed to get rid of five of them before succumbing to the purple onslaught.

- I know I’m not the best at close combat, started Gwen. This one might be a genius. I should ask him to teach me.

- Don’t expect that, Camille jeered. She is not capable of teaching anything.

The girl aggregated her comment with an upward glare. The girls sharing her bed tilted their head simultaneously, making the noble girl realise her lack of clarity. With a small laugh, she pointed her chin toward a distant valag.

- It’s Karin. Can you not recognise her?

- No way! Mijuu Yelped with a bulging gaze to the girl. Are you sure?

- The one in the video use the third arcana of Gintela, Camille explained with a high note. Karin is the only valag to know it among the first year. I’m trying to learn it; it’s not easy.

The two vividly agreed. Even talking with Osder was seen as a feat for most of the trainees. The tall valag was not at her first blood rush, and quite a few daring young had fallen under her martial prowess. Among them, Camille had become the only one to appreciate watching her fighting. Many believed she was just a mountain of muscle, they were right, but the amber-eyed girl fighting style had nothing to do with that.

- I’m surprised Osder took the time to tell you this, spoke Mijuu. Every time she talks, it’s either to complain, threaten or mock. The three together most of the time.

- I might agree with Sevos—Camille started with a few hesitations. She is a bit of a lunatic. Sometimes, she can speak with me normally and the next second try to punch me for no reason. I have seen her go from sorry to angry in a snap of the finger. It’s like she always comes back to brutality when she doesn’t know what to do. She might deserve to be called Osder the ogre, but she is not a bad girl.

Mijuu, overthrowing the second part of Camille final words, threw a glance at Karin. The valag had rolled into her bed, sleeping quietly for the dark girl pleasure. With a sigh of relief, she turned a dark gaze at her friend.

- Don’t call her like that out loud, snipe! Mijuu pressed her. Yesterday she smashed that sul’doth for the same crime. Kiel is not here to protect you, and I don’t want to see you wounded again.

- Yes, Camille! Gwen agreed with some frenetic nod. Osder is scary when she is angry.

- Don’t worry, I know how to defend myself! I’m almost a valag now!

The two girls rolled their eyes. Everyone knew about Camille lack of martial strength, and even if the noble girl were their friend, they would only cheer to a soft defeat.

- You don’t believe me? I would dodge every attack and send her the counter of her life. Camille said, boxing the air. Trust me! I’m an expert on the subject.

The three girls laughed together at the noble’s fantasy. Camille prayed never to fight the real Osder again; The valag had softened up and had not hit the girl on the ground for a long time. She could tell she was holding back, that or her skin had become hard as rock in a week. The moment of joy was interrupted as the light turned off in one go. Trainees’ sigh filled the dormitory as everyone left their friend to return to their bed.

- Good night, Gwen. Good night, snipe! Singed Mijuu, fist-bumping the two girls.

The two nobles returned the goodbye before parting away; it was already time to sleep. Camille laid her back on the soft mattress, her gaze lost on the ceiling. In the first days, the teen had rarely seen the light turn off. Tired and weepy, she always fell asleep as soon as she reached the cotton bed, not without drying her sorrow first. Since her meeting with Dead and Lesskov’s revelation, her nights were haunted by insomnia. Her crying body couldn’t push her to rest, and stiff as a corpse, her mind would wander. The voices of her friends were not even memory; she was already choking herself with the mass of unanswered question. If the laughing MEA and Lesskov were a clear target for the girl’s curiosity, it was another mystery that lighted up her mind as the Nal’tear the sky of Erin. Preventing her from the peaceful respite she so dearly needed.

Was Camille sharing the story of that boy she read about? Was she not her father’s daughter? Verin had almost confirmed it when he abandoned her. Even worse, the teenager had always felt closer to him. Chewing on her lips, she drew again all the differences she had with her mother and sister. Liane was a perfect double of their mother—radiant copper hairs, angel-like face— Everything the girl was missing. The dark-haired girl had always attributed her difference to her mutation, but now she was crippled by doubt. She couldn’t even tell if the woman was her mother anymore.

Where are they? Camille asked the universe. Where can I find the ones who will hug me when I cry? Who will tell me they are proud? I don’t want to be alone.

It took the girl half an hour of self-torture to abandon the idea of sleeping. Camille rolled out of her bed, her empty gaze on the floor. She dressed back in silence and prepared to leave the dormitory. In these moments, she only knew one way to clear her head, a quick walk into the night. She was about to close her wardrobe when the shinny crystalline card gripped her dusky gaze. Dead laugh climbed back in her memory, sending her shiver down her spine. She started to close the door, stopping in the middle. Her lips squashed together as she turned over her shoulder to take a last catch at the faint light.

- Zat! She muttered to not awake her comrade.

Grabbing the card, she dropped it in her pocket before leaving on tiptoes the dormitory. The noble girl was not sure to find the courage to use it. The boundary between her and the secret vault was a shelter to her most vivid fear. Travelling along the walls, Camille made sure to avoid being seen. At this hour, the base’s streets were drowning in sullen silence. Students were sleeping while their instructors finished their last business—no one to look for a stealthy little girl. Camille kept her necklace out, using its power to avoid cameras. Above her head, a sky empty of any cloud opened up. She had never taken the time to watch the star on Earth, only now she appreciated the endless universe extending in front of her eyes. ErinIV’s sky was often painted in grey clouds, a dull and boring colour for the girl who missed the blue of her native world. However, when the veil lifted, a magnificent spectacle offered itself to the people of Erin. Only when staring at the silver embroidery and the gleaming moons, the vortex of feeling stuffing her chest faded.

Her tiny feet took her from the east of the base to the ghostly middle, where she found herself facing the ceremony centre. The MEA guard had vanished, and only the ten statues of the guardian were protecting the entrance. Behind the building, she would find Dead and whatever secret Lesskov was hiding. Swinging right and left like a spring, the girl stared into the legendary figure as if the stone would slay her doubt. With a sigh, she started to get around the building. The flame of curiosity was faint but burned hardly among the shadows obscuring her mind. Camille needed to unbridle the knot of feeling crushing her chest. Lesskov’s offer could alleviate her struggle. Perhaps, the mysterious instructor could answer her questions.

Camille passed the corner with a resolute face, wavering right away as she felt Dead’s gaze upon her. The MEA’s eyes glimmered in the night, following by a joyful chuckle. The war machine briefly scanned the surrounding, making sure Camille was alone. He jumped on the spot, almost dancing with his heavy body. His new little sister had finally come to visit him. Dead didn’t speak and moved his hand toward behind him. Camille had not noticed the first time she had come; the blue MEA was on guard duty. Behind the beast, a slope hid an old bunker door. The rusted steel covered in scars told a story by itself. Like many, it had not been forgotten by war.

Keeping her distance from the blue ghost, Camille walked to the door. On the right side, a lock older than her was preventing passage. Camille took the card out of the pocket, it fitted perfectly, and the door answered with silenced mechanical noises. The antique mechanism was oiled like a clock and, with ticking, started to lift for the girl. Behind the door, a large corridor opened up, mostly filled with a strange railroad. A platform large enough to carry multiple MEA at once was locked on. Many vaults had been built along the side, each bearing number or name. The place reminded her of the barrack thirty-four. She was in an old military compound hidden under the new one. Vaulting the rail, she climbed in, and with another use of the card, started the old train. It started right away, propelling the girl across the railroad. The platform carried her to a vault, two words written in hard blue paint on the doors.

- Reckless corpse? What a stupid name!

Jumping out of the platform, she reached for the human-sized door. She entered without a second thought, believing the warehouse hid some old weapon of war. Her arms felt back near her body, lips a tiny open, she stared right to the left across the room.

- It—it’s a house?

The warehouse was not as large as she expected. Twenty meters large for thirty long, it was not what baffled the girl. Far away from the typical storage for MEA, the place had been turned into a living area. On the right, a large table surrounded by fifteen chairs secured a comfy place to eat. Behind a kitchen had been built where was once a reparation workshop. On the other side, an oversized couch and an old physical screen created a living room. All around, shelves had been built—those last covered with board games, books, and many crazy antique worthies of a collector. Right besides, a pool still holding the ghost of an unended game was blocking the way to a bar.

Camille stepped away from the door, which closed with a sudden smash. Her curiosity bitten; the girl barely noticed. She started to ferret across the room, studying its every aspect. When reaching the bar, her gaze fell on pictures protected behind glass frames. She had seen paper pictures before, a new noble’s folly for her parents. The young girl finds the primitive idea poetic. Bouncing from foot to foot, she took her time to go across the picture. Her chest became light when she recognised Blue. Younger, her copper hair betrayed her as much as the unique blue strand. She was in her early twenty, sparkling with joy among her comrades. Even covered in oil, the woman kept the uniqueness that grabbed Camille by the guts when she met her.

Quite a lot had piled up, and a few managed to grab the girl attention. The first was a group picture filled with many young of her age. Blue was at the centre, her arms holding two girls near her. The one on the right had long blond hair which covered her stressed face. The second was a sul’doth with an alluring smile. Behind the three, the tallest valag Camille had ever seen was showing off her muscles. A few others were present. Camille noticed right away an old vlin’ns sitting on a chair. Seating on a chair, he had the same grandpa look as jasper. Next to him were a few boys around the same age as Blue. A dark-skinned human half equipped with a yellow MES and a man with long dark hair working on it—Both not paying attention to the picture. Camille narrowed her eyes; she had seen the last before.

Turning her memory upside down, the girl hit her forehead when she remembered the shooting range incident. Lesskov without his grey hair was another man. Twice more on the picture where he bore a large smile, alien to the old him. The embittered instructor looked almost happy to be there. Only his icy eyes had endured, filled with the same depth and resolution.

Moving on, she noticed a few more recent pictures. The frame around them were both detailed and polished as the one behind them had taken more time for his art. A young vlin’ns, with bright red eyes, was taking the top spot in a few. Young Kiel had changed a lot, but she kept the same toughness. Almost concluding her investigation, her hand clamped on the last one. A thrill rushed along her body as the last memory opened to her. The scene took place in a hospital room, Blue resting on the bed. She was both happy and tired, her serein gaze on Kiel, who seated next to her. The young vlin’ns was about to decompose. All her attention focused on the burden she was carrying in her small arms, a newborn quietly sleeping.

The teenager’s belly turned stiff as if she had eaten rocks. She dropped back the frame, turning away as her face turned livid. With a shaking hand, she activated the sink, rolling water over her face. Something was wrong with the picture, and she felt it in her guts. Blue and Lesskov, ghosts of the federation, she barely knew them. Yet, she had discovered a secret they shrouded away from the galaxy. How could no one know about the child of the greatest hero of the past decade? When the girl had seen the picture, a little voice had spoken in her head. She didn’t want to listen and rip the idea taking root in her mind. Vaulting over the bar, she rushed for the door without looking back. She should have left the ghost of the past alone. Her visit was a mistake.

- I told you to wait! Why are you not listening!

- Dead, I don’t know what you want to hide. I hope you didn’t destroy the TV like last time.

Camille froze in place, her hand just above the door’s lock. Someone was talking on the other side, coming her way. Already disturbed, the girl body heated up thirty degrees at once. Watching all around, she tried to find something to do. Too late, the door opened with a slamming noise. She slowly turned her head toward the men in front, Lesskov with an almost surprised face. Dead was also present, not the big one, but a small and cute lizard version of the MEA. Sitting on Lesskov’s broad shoulders and giving a sorry look at the girl, he curled up to make himself forgot. Camille, purely focused on the man, stood like a tombstone.

- Trainee Weiss? Nice weather for a stroll.

Lesskov, who had just entered the warehouse, gave the young girl a radiant smile. The shabby air on his face was telling her everything she needed. She didn’t even try a salute, knowing her last hour arrived.

- Zat!