[Felt]

The room was dark, except for a single spot illuminated as though by a spotlight. Other than a rough outline of some rectangular box, I couldn't quite see what was there because my sight was blurry.

Wait, why is it so blurry?

I tried blinking out the tears, but my vision did not improve no matter what I tried. Suddenly, blood rushed to my head as I felt a huge weight slam down on my shoulders like a boulder dropped from heaven.

It's raining boulders

I collapsed to one knee, panting, straining with every fibre of my being against this invisible foe. I grit my teeth so hard I could almost taste the coppery scent of blood on my tongue. My back arched and as I was about to get up on one knee, the force doubled in strength. My already weak body fell to the floor, my lungs crushed under the weight of my body.

Boulders are heavy, man, gimme a break

Every breath was a labour and only affording brief respite. My head lay horizontally, blood rushing to one side, feeling as though my veins would burst. Still, for some reason, my eyes remained locked on that blurry object. I reached a trembling hand forward before it too collapsed under its own weight, my muscles far too weak and my body too heavy.

I'm so tired. I'll just close my eyes...for a second.

My thoughts became disjointed and I returned to the unawareness of deep sleep.

...

'What a weird dream', I thought, stretching. 'Something about rain?'.

Clearing my head with a swig of water from the flask by my bunk, I yawned deeply. Sleeping on a real bed felt like sleeping on a cloud, nay, a cloud of the softest marshmallows after being in the trenches for six months.

'I could get used to this', I thought, scoffing almost immediately at the ridiculousness of my wish. High ranking soldiers, or any soldiers with experience are usually conscripted to the front lines as soon as possible. Of course, I couldn't be redeployed to the front lines immediately, something about 'mental health'. Whatever it was, I certainly wouldn't turn down payed leave any day of the week.

Getting out of bed and getting changed took surprisingly little time with no queues for the bathroom. I must have overslept, as I couldn't see anyone and all the bunks were empty. Just as I had left the barracks, I heard a voice to my right call out.

"Excuse me, sir"

Turning my head, I took in the figure before me. Judging by the insignia, a new recruit, and the pale blue skin gave away his exotic heritage just as much as his flapping gills. I couldn't say that I wasn't slightly curious as to why in the world an Okeanos had come to a desert of all places.

"Sir?", the voice repeated. "You are Solder First Class Felt, correct?".

"Ah yes", I brought my attention back to the recruit. "Sorry, late night. What is it?"

The recruit, clearly nervous, fiddled with a piece of paper I just noticed in his webbed hands. He said, "You've been issued new orders from the Major". Thrusting out the piece of paper, he continued, "He said everything you'd need is in there".

I took it off his hands and inspected it closer. Only the Major would use something so outdated as actual letters sealed with wax to deliver instructions. As I was about to open it, I noticed the recruit still standing there, looking rather awkward.

"Anything I can help you with recruit...", I tailed off.

"Galari Raligi Garli", he offered, sounding as though gargling sea-water while being throttled and electrocuted.

"Right...", I said, "Anyways, do you need anything else?".

"The Major said to stay until you'd finished opening the letter", Galari stuttered, "but I can go if you want".

"No, no it's fine", I waved down his concerns. The Major normally had a good enough reason for what he did and if the contents of the letter were really that important, I doubt he'd give it to some random recruit to deliver. Let alone one so...calm and composed.

Snapping the hardened wax, I opened the envelope and took out a creamy coloured paper that looked expensive even to my uncultured eyes.

To the honoured Soldier: FELT

The most generic greeting ever; my name was the only part written by hand.

As a result of your above-average performance during the recent [redacted] you have been given the option to choose your next placement.

At least he has some sense to redact details in such an unsecure letter. The Major's observance of protocol truly brings a tear to my eye.

Either be redeployed to front line after your mandated rest - please speak with Sergeant Coll for further clarification regarding this course of action.

However tempting that may be, I think I'll pass.

Or temporarily take up a position as Drillmaster and train the newest batch of recruits.

- Speak to Commandant Aytus for further details. Good luck soldier

The last two sentences were written in the handwriting of the Major, as though he had divined the choice I would make even when faced with two incredibly attractive offers. Truly a man of incredible foresight.

Folding the piece of paper up and placing it in my pocket, I turned back to face the recruit, "I'm off to the Commandant for my new assignment. Thanks for delivering the letter, I'm good from here".

"Yes, sir", Galari spoke without stuttering for once. He stood to attention and I nodded before making my way towards the Commandant. Last I remembered, his office was near the mess, hopefully there hadn't been radical adjustments to the layout of the base in the time I was gone.

The mess was probably one of the largest buildings, built of sandstone rather than a cloth tent, second only to the barracks in size. Adjacent to it, almost hidden in its shadow, stood a small tent dwarfed by the giant to its side despite its respectable size. The Commandant actually had a surprisingly large office, although it makes sense considering the not-insignificant amount of admin involved in running a military base.

Of course, being in a state of war does reduce the bureaucratic red tape marginally.

I rang the doorbell that hung suspended with a wire from a scaffold holding the tent up. Before long, I heard footsteps and the cloth overhanging the entrance was swept aside. I walked in, gratefully accepting respite from the desert sun in the shade.

"Soldier Felt", a voice spoke curtly. Looking to its origin, I saw a woman standing to the side, her vertical-slit eyes staring right at me without blinking. Her face had a smattering of sandy-coloured scales, not fish-like like the recruit Galari, but reptilian. "The Commandant has been expecting you, follow me".

'Of course he has', I thought.

"Thank you", I replied quickly. Without any indication that she had acknowledged my words, she strode towards the office of the Commandant. Hastening to catch up with her long strides, we soon arrived at the office of the Commandant. She swept the cloth barrier to one side and stepped into the room, me following behind.

If the Major's room was at one extreme of organisation skills, then the Commandant was the complete antithesis. A sterile-white desk stood in the middle of the room, looking completely out of place among the sandy cloth-covered walls. Blue-tinted projections and holograms were lain out neatly on each of the four sides of the room, including the door through which we entered.

Unlike the Major, however, instead of maps and military plans, graphs and deployment sheets were displayed, the sheer volume of numbers shown almost giving me a headache just by looking at them.

"Soldier Felt is here to see you, Commandant"

"Thank you, Larekt. You may be excused", he replied looking up from the tablet in his hands. The lizard-kin Larekt saluted in response and exited the room without so much as a glance in my direction.

After she had left, the Commandant addressed me, "Apologies for her, she can be a bit...ah...abrupt sometimes. Perfectly competent though, best assistant I could ask for in a place like this".

"No worries sir, I'm sure she's great. I believe you have orders for me?", I replied quickly changing the subject.

"Yes, of course", he said, placing the tablet on the desk in front of him. Pressing a button, a small hologram was projected above its screen. The blue light danced in the air for a few seconds like shimmering water before configuring to form what seemed to be a form of some sort. The Commandant inspected it closely before closing the tablet and dismissing the hologram.

"So you have applied for temporary Drillmaster, it seems?", he asked. Before I had a chance to respond, he continued without pause, "Coincidentally, there have been a batch of new recruits just yesterday. Reinforcements, I believe, considering the events at fortress 31".

'It's bigger than I thought if they actually fulfilled our requests for reinforcements', I thought, 'especially when we're spread so thin already'

"How many will there be, Commandant", I questioned.

"Don't worry", he reassured, "We know you're lack of experience in this area. Instead of fully green recruits, you'll be given those just about to be promoted. In fact, you're to take their promotion exams."

'A promotion examiner', I thought with confusion. 'Strange, I'm a sniper, not a trainer. I thought at least I'd be teaching the long-range combat-'

"I'm sure you're confused as to this placement", the Commandant said with a small smile at my surprise. "I can see it on your face. But I don't have an answer for you, I'm afraid. The order came from up on high".

'Perhaps there truly is a traitor amongst the higher-ups, spilling secrets to the enemy', I pondered, 'but what good would it do them for me to be kept safe, away from battle where I could easily be silenced?'

"Very well sir", I said though still curious about the situation. 'Of course it would be all too easy for a soldier like me to lose my head in the politics of the higher-ups. Best to keep my head down and follow orders', I reflected seriously.

"Good, good", the Commandant said, sounding pleased. "You're orders will be sent to your MS directly tomorrow. Take today off, from what the Major told me, you deserve it".

I stood to attention and the Commandant dismissed me, returning to his all-important numbers. His assistant was waiting for me and escorted me outside. Before I even had a chance to thank her, the cloth door swung shut locking me out into the heat of the desert, which had not died down in the least while I was inside. Turning away from the tent, I relaxed as I felt a weight I hadn't noticed drop from my shoulders.

'Perhaps there is something to that mental health nonsense', I thought jokingly. 'Anyhow, I've got today off and I certainly plan to enjoy it'. A grin spread on my face unfettered, no doubt making me seem like a madman to everyone else who took a wide berth around me as I strolled towards the games centre.

***

Elsewhere far from the Eastern Plateau, deep inside strongholds within strongholds, a sombre atmosphere dominated a large meeting hall. The people sat around the table represented the greatest concentration of power capable of being gathered on the entire continent. All had indispensable duties, yet all rushed here without delay.

A man wearing the insignia of a High General stood up, his boots stomps echoing in the emptiness of the high ceiling. He addressed the figure at the head of the table, shrouded in strange mist that obscured their features.

"Is this truth?", he demanded loudly.

The figure lounged back in its seat before responding in an androgynous drawl, "What an inane question for one who cannot lie, Jezeb."

"You know full well what I mean, Oasis", the General groused out through gritted teeth. "Who knows what it is that you deem as 'truth'".

A sigh resounded from the Oasis as it sat up in its seat. "The portents are clear, General. As clear as any I've seen, as well as any those before me have seen", the Oasis replied solemnly without any of its previous levity.

The General collapsed down into his seat with a defeated groan. "Then how long do we have? Is there truly nothing we can do? No preparations for the upcoming storm?", he said with the hope of a man on the gallows wishing for the rope to fray and spare his life.

"Even if we had time, it would change nothing. We can only wait and brace ourselves for what is to come", the Oasis spoke, addressing all sitting at the table who now understood that no matter their power, some things belonged firmly in realms beyond their understanding. Placing its shrouded hands on the table, it continued:

"The Alliance shall fall"

The Oasis' final words echoed grimly throughout the meeting hall and this time, none disputed them.

*****************************

22nd Monarch, 1446

The stars still shine clear, though they grow dimmer with every passing hour. Within the obscuring fog, I have noticed strange things. Yesterday, I swore I could have seen a ship just like ours travelling in the other direction. Yet the hull was fractured, the mast lay broken and the sail hung tattered and ripped. A single silhouette stood on the deck, waving furiously at us. I shouted to the captain yet when I turned my head back, I saw nothing...

- Extract from the diary of S. Kyssus entry 8, Archive File #P1D9*****