That early morning Mike woke up with a groan. He was responsible for taking the lead in the “negotiations” with the OMFS Intelligence Officers.

At the break of dawn, he and the others departed their temporary residence in an apartment complex near the sub-office belonging to the Office of Military and Federal Security, and the National Intelligence Agency. Both used the office to coordinate resources during joint missions when it came to national security. Though sharing similar standings of that of the US Army and Marine Corps, both agencies got along when it came to business, but in their spare time, remarks were casually thrown around the office.

At least the long day was over… Though a part of him wanted to figure more out with regards to the Field Commander’s promise to find a way to return to Earth, he continued with his plan to enjoy the last of the evening that he had.

With the capital city being so close to the coastal city of Oceana, it only took thirty minutes to reach the destination and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the calming waves of the ocean that brushed up against the sand. Scattered trees were placed along the sand-line with a forest not far away obstructing a fair amount of sunlight towards supposed abandoned ruins of a fort or stronghold. Standing in nothing but his black slacks, black dress shoes, and roughed-up white button down-shirt, he breathed in the salty air as he leaned against a metal railing that was thankfully dry unlike the rest of the Federation.

Earlier, as he walked the sprawling streets of the ocean-based city, his thoughts drifted to the meeting he had with several NIA representatives and his immediate superiors within the OMFS. His time as a Ranger and his time within the US Army had conditioned him against such drawn out inspections, yet he found himself growing quite bored and annoyed with the constant chattering that the NIA reps did while they were “asking” him about his “life”. Though soon enough the tension that built in his body died down once his commanding officer took control of the situation and moved to ask proper questions for the matter at hand, civilian technology. The topic was simple to talk about, he managed to answer all questions without hesitation or stuttering, and it seemed refreshing to talk about his homeland in a way that didn’t make him miss it dearly. He primarily spoke of the United States like a tourist advisor and even offered to show pictures of his home state of Texas if he a chance.

After that the conversation moved to the topic of magic, something he and the other Rangers knew little to nothing about. Thankfully the NIA representatives were excused due to a meeting, and the OMFS officers present were briefed about his and the others situation of being summoned by the Kingdom of Yondel. The screening he went through was just a basic test that challenged his knowledge of magic. Naturally he failed, but the written portion did gain the interest of his commanding officer as he had devised a theoretical method for casting spells. With the attention of several Field Officers, Mike was quickly relocated to another room.

Any semblance of hope he had for understanding the intricacies of magic suddenly vanished as he was brought into a gym for a physical examination, and for him to show new exercise techniques to a group of experienced Special and Field Agents that worked under the current Field Commander’s orders. It didn’t take long after he displayed several strength building, and aerobic exercises that he was brought to a final room for a brief lesson on the history of the Federation.

Coming from a large empire that scoured the northern regions of the continent they were on; the Federation was once a part of a larger entity that had become the model of both military and civilian technology throughout the world. Contrary to the more “mid-evil” societies on the other side of the frontier, there was a stagnation period within the empire, thus it failed to grow and influence nearby countries. Eventually the powers of the world placed a target on the empire, and a world war broke out as the coalition forces of the Kingdoms, and Principalities moved to destroy the great and powerful nation. During this large conflict, of all things, Demons, monsters, and other fantasy beings seemingly just appeared into reality as they helped the empire push away their invaders all the way to the trading center of Bishmark within the Kingdom of Yondel.

Even with the sudden colossal victory the Empire had obtained, the fractures made in the society by the joint forces of the south began to show their ugly heads. From the inside revolutions broke out as nationalists fought against groups of spies and traitors. The worst civil war ever to be documented lasted fifteen years as the Empire crumbled and the ranks of the governments and military were purged by the very people many once swore to protect.

Out of the ashes three nations were born: The Federation of Zivaland, the Joint Territories of Junapolu, and the Republic of Marisol.

Each nation acted independently, becoming self-sufficient to the point where interaction with the outside world suddenly ceased. Blocking themselves off from the other nations, the nations of the south seemingly forgot about them as primarily the Federation took the lead in reconstruction efforts, thus do to this sudden leadership between the three nations, an alliance was formed to protect and defend each nation from threats both foreign and domestic. Though the Empire was gone, and its territories reduced to three nations, the spirit the people once held remained as this new “Age of Silence” cemented itself in history.

With the advent of the alliance, intelligence agencies were authorized by each nation to conduct high-risk counterterrorism missions, and espionage missions. They were primarily directed to spy on their sister nations to prevent another internal war—a war that would spill the will of the people. Under the direction of then Director Traven Cho, the OMFS was formed, and the newly cemented organization undertook operations on the border and within the governmental capitals of each district within the Federation.

The internal war still continued, and only recently was it stopped as a new threat emerged from the outside world. Under the former territories of the Empire—the frontier was ripe for plundering by the Kingdom of Yondel. Bands of mercenaries, criminals, militias, and guild members scoured the forgotten wildlands in the hope of discovering new technologies ranging from military weapons, magical items, and everyday civilian commodities.

Along with this new threat, the summoned heroes of the kingdom appeared. Then the “Holy Knights” came into existence…

Taking a deep breath, Mike stood up straight as he stared into the setting sun just over the horizon.

Standing quietly beside him was a young woman. Like his own, many people found themselves catching their eyes tracing over the short-curly silver hair that reached her shoulders. She wore a small face with clear brown eyes and pale pink lips shined in the spring light that shined upon from the darkening skies. Adorning her body, she wore a slim fitting white dress that highlighted her tone but modest body. A black coat sat over her shoulders saving some of her dignity, and like him, she remained focused on the distant waves that crashed into the shoreline.

No one else would know, but she was a member of a royal family that held incredible power—the Araish family. Based on pure assumption with theories on how magic worked in the world, Mike was easily able to discern that the young girl standing beside him was more than just a powerful mage that held to ability to use one of the ancient arts—Nullification, but she held an unyielding power that could act as a catalyst for future generations.

Her identity as the “First Born Princess”, “Silver Demon”, and rank as Chieftain within her home country’s military further proved this examination made by the sergeant. At times he was at a loss that he was fighting alongside a member of royalty—one that could easily kill him and his fellow brothers-in-arms at a hats notice. Sometimes he was afraid to speak to her, yet he was able to slowly get used talking to the silver-haired maiden.

Speaking of the maiden, her body remained stiff, and tension laced her body as her mind seemed occupied while gazing at the never-ending waves. He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what to say, and sometimes silence was the right answer. He couldn’t just throw out a random remark like “Wow, the sunset is pretty.” Or “Nice day, huh?” That would be the last thing he would ever do with the opposite member of the sex.

“You seemed troubled.” Getting right to the point was one of things Mike was good at, so he played to his strengths. “You don’t have to tell me, but if it helps, I can listen.” He stated while gripping the metal bar he rested on tightly. Being in the line of work that he was, he instantly knew that a person of her caliber was too young to be dealing with the world on her shoulders, even her nature as a princess—dealing with politics should’ve been relegated to any experienced military or governmental member.

Seeing that the bridge of her nose was facing him, Mike could feel that she was relieved that he had finally spoken to her. Though remaining cautious with her hands just lying at the front of her torso, she showed off the air of a refined noble, and her movements remained gracious as she also showed interest within him. In a more relaxed state, Mike shifted his shoulders slightly as he turned his head slightly away from the princess.

He knew that affection for the woman beside him had grown since they first met that silent knight within the kingdom. He was a male; it was only natural that such a thing would happen. But in the name of operational security and the will to return to Earth, he beat down such emotions and prevented them from leading him astray; though he could only go so far, as each day passed, he found himself having more one-on-one conversations with the silver-haired maiden more than his other fellow Rangers.

His words were just enough to make her pale lips separate— “Are you really going to return to your home…?” Her voice was like a chime, though a heavy weight was attached to it as it sounded like she held back any lingering emotions she had throughout the day. Mike was more taken aback by the question; yes, he did explain to her that they would find a way home, but it was obvious she knew of the plan to return home through the directions of the Field Commander and Director of the OMFS.

Holding his head, he remembered that she went with Captain Thompson during their first tour of the central office where the Field Commander was stationed; she was there to listen to the initial plan.

“My apologies for sounding displeased—I just… wasn’t ready to see you all go so soon…” Struggling to say her words, the princess slowly faced the ocean with her hand brushing her silver locks that blew in the slaty wind.

“I-I…” At a loss for words, Mike took his time as he tried to come up with a response that would properly explain his and his squadron’s intentions. “I suppose that it was something just waiting to happen. We all want to return to our own home, but I know a few of us want to stay here a little longer to make a true difference.” He said, hoping his words made sense to both himself and Lecca.

“I know…” She said in a flustered voice taking the sergeant off guard. “It’s selfish of me to want you all to stay here… There are things that you still have to solve in your own world, don’t you?” She became somber as she remembered the conversation, she and the other members of Task Force Spare had in the crater. They spoke of their own world underneath the blood-filled stars, and it was more than enough to paint a picture in her mind of what “Earth” was truly like.

“Wait, wait! We’re not going to leave so fast. Yeah, we got problems, but there are things that we have to solve here before we get anywhere!” Standing up straight, the ocean wind blew through Mike’s growing hair as his eyes narrowed and his voice held determination. “We don’t half-ass jobs that we get into. All of us knew what we were signing up for when we chose to help the kingdom, help you.”

Lecca’s eyes glossed over for just a moment. She blinked the gloss away as a small smile snuck up on the corner of her lips. “Do you think my family would forgive me?” She seemed surprised at her sudden words as if she spoke something she never wanted to mention.

“Your family?” Puzzled, Mike thought back to the current king and how his Lieutenant was the one to verbally mention that they did not share the same family name. “If you’re referring to your actual family, your blood, then I think forgiveness would be the last thing on their minds.”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. I don’t know them personally, but I can imagine they helped raise you into the person you are today. Hell, even the current rulers of Yondel must have some appreciation for you even if it’s some twisted way.” Mike explained making the princess rub her forearm as a myriad of thoughts crossed her mind, “You are a princess, a soldier, a user of the ancient arts, and…”

It took him a moment to find the right words.

“You are a partner to me.” He confessed sharing a small smile. “Me and the others welcome you with open arms to our little family of stupidity within the army, but we all see you as someone irreplaceable.” Resting against the metal bars once more, the wind battered his exposed skin and his eyes felt heavy as he stared at the darkening sky above.

Princess Lecca stared at the man before her with wide eyes that slowly threatened to release a single tear; the once firm expression she used to hold when on duty had simply been wiped away by the thirty-two words that had escaped the sergeant’s mouth. Her hands clenched into fists as her eyes played the memories, she had spent with the men that were forcibly removed from their homes; her mouth moved and twitched, yet words failed to escape as she tried her hardest to come up with some response.

As Mike waited for something, the pressure sitting against his right side seemed to multiply. His concealed handgun pressed against his waist making it hurt at certain moments he took, yet he remained calm as he pressed through the uncomfortable situation with all he had. Lecca had opted to remain silent to his words, and here he was worrying if he said something wrong. His training had mostly forced him to ignore the everyday life as a civilian; it was for the sake of the mission, and yet everything he had been built for was now starting to come into question as he had lived more than one day as a normal person, not a soldier.

“Thank you…”

Those words spoken so suddenly by the princess beside him resonated within his mind. He grasped his two hands together as he kept his head low; the stories he had now experienced repeated in his mind. She now played a major part in his own story, there was no doubting that. Feeling his heart beating in a steady rhythm, he questioned the feeling welling deep inside his gut; he now questioned if such a feeling could be completed with someone like her.

Removing himself from the metal bar, Mike stood tall over the princess as he looked into the same-colored eyes she held. “Don’t go running away from us now.” He said with a light chuckled as he tapped his foot against the paved grounds they stood on.

Nodding her head slightly, yet never removing her eyes from his, Lecca spoke softly, “I can say the same to you, partner.” Placing her hand on the taller man’s shoulders, it almost felt like it was natural to be drawn into his comforting hold. She gravitated towards him with a faint, but genuine smile as she was embraced by the sergeant who took a deep breath at the sudden turn of the situation, she had placed him in.

Mike had yet to find the words to convey the message his subconscious wanted to say, yet he only hesitated for a split second before committing to the action of comforting the woman in his arms. As of now she was no Princess or Chieftain, she was his acting partner that had stuck with him since the beginning of this unusual scenario the other members of the royal family had thrown them into.

In the palm of his hand, he felt her silky-smooth sliver hair running through his fingers. Lecca let out a soft hum as she appreciated the movement, it made her feel at peace as the last of the sun’s rays poured down on the seemingly distant city of Oceana; in the falling beams of light, the denizens returned to their residencies, while government officials scoured the nighttime streets scouring for any trouble to the great Federation they worked for. “Well… if you’re my partner, we have to get used to dancing!” Smiling cheerfully in the covered arm she snuggled against, Lecca poked the man’s side as she swayed side-to-side making Mike panic as he moved in sync with her.

“I-I think there was a jazz club or something that the other agents went to when off duty!” Still panicking as he tried not to lose his balance as he and the woman in his arms swayed in a circular motion gaining the attention of several families and couples moving along the darkened sidewalks and empty streets.

With a curious look on her face, Lecca continued to cheer, “I don’t know what this “jazz” is, but it sounds fun!” Humming some more, Mike was trying to frantically remember the pathway he and the princess would have to take to reach the establishment that was briefly mentioned by Officer Phillips back in the ‘interrogation’ room that he occupied earlier in the day.

“Alright! Alright!” Spotting a nearby street sign, Mike resigned himself to separating from the silver-haired maiden. “C’mon! Let’s get there before the local crowds comes in!” Without another word or thought, he grasped her pale hand and pulled her along making her yelp in surprise as they suddenly began to run along the cool streets of Oceana. Their footsteps echoed in the empty streets, and a light sweat built on their faces as they eventually navigated through the maze of the coastal city to the small underground establishment where a guard and several groups of nicely dressed attendants stood.

Thankfully the line was short enough, and soon, the Sergeant escorted his Princess into the secret establishment below ground. As their bodies entered the room, a gentle sound from a piano played from the center of the room where several couples danced to the soft music being played throughout the confined space.

“…” Taken aback by the sight before her, the princess couldn’t help but quietly gasp at the atmosphere the small club held as the intoxicating lights, and gentle smells flooded her senses almost making her weak on her two feet. Before she could say anything, she felt her hand being tugged by Mike’s as she was dragged to the wooden bar where a stylish bartender waited for the two of them while wiping down a glass cup.

“Welcome to the Oceana Lounge!” The bartender said in a cheer-filled voice as he motioned for the two to take a seat at the barstools just across from him. “I haven’t seen your faces before; you two on a date night?” He said turning on his heels and running his fingers over several bottles before grasping one firmly.

Lecca shuffled in her seat not knowing what the word “date” meant, while Mike opted to answer for her, “Something like that; just an outing between coworkers is all.” He said trying to draw attention away from himself and the angelic-like woman next to him.

“Well, I’m not one to judge!” The man said while taking two shot glasses and placing them on the counter in front of him, “For first time visitors, you chose a good time to swing by. Only at the end of the month do we have a happy hour that allows first timers to get a free drink!” He said while spinning on his heels and pouring two drinks into a metal mixer.

The princess’s brown eyes watched as the man covered the silver cup and used it to mix the two drinks. Everything she had watched within the last five minutes was completely new to her; fortunately, she was her with her partner to experience something that would have an everlasting impression within her mind. Feeling her hand in Mike’s hand, she hummed to herself as the bartender finished mixing the drinks.

“Two Marave shots on the house!” He said placing the two shot glasses before the two agents. Placing a small lime on each of the glasses, he pushed it towards the two enticing them to drink the alcohol.

Unfortunately, Lecca let go of Mike’s hand as she used both her hands to grasp the shot glass that was placed before her. She had experience with alcoholic beverages ever since she was a child, it was more than common to have wine during day-to-to life, not to mention the specialty drinks that were introduced during special events such as the coronation of a new king or the marriage of one of the dukes.

“C’mon.” By her side, Mike raised his glass in the air. The gentle warmth of the artificial lights above shined upon his glass as it stopped halfway between himself and the silver-haired maiden. Mimicking his actions, the princess held her glass in one hand as she brought it before his own glass.

Only separated by just a mere five inches, both moved in synchronization as their glasses tapped against each other. Still moving together, Lecca brought the glass to her lips as he let the liquid enter her mouth. Her eyes widened as she felt the complex tastes of the alcohol touch her taste buds and throat; it slightly burned at first due to how strong it was, but she soon began to develop a liking to the Marave she was served as the flavors quickly disappeared leaving a semi-pleasant aftertaste that had a hint of sourness to it. The liquid made her feel slightly warm, and it gave her a very gentle buzz that made her feel jubilant.

Blaring loudly in the confined space, everyone presents in the lounge turned to the band present that began to play an upbeat tune with an instrument that similar to that of a trumpet taking the lead. Cheers came from all the couples around as they flooded the now-cramped dancefloors to shake away their drinks for the night. Feeling the piano and the constant thuds of the patrons’ footsteps on the dance floor, Mike had a bug in him that made his foot keep tempo to the beat established by the drummer and the saxophone-like instruments playing throughout the venue.

Reaching over for the princess hand, the silver-haired maiden moved close to him; she pressed her body against him as she dragged him to the dance floor.

“Let’s dance!”

Publicly Available Information: Federation Cuisine:

Along the coastal cities such as Oceana, the Federation of Zivaland prides itself in its famous food that largely consist of fish, shrimp, shellfish, and many different types of crustations. However, those that live in the vast farmlands to the west serve specialty meats such as beef, pork, lamb, goat, and other small varmint delicacies.

Many of the dishes served throughout the nation are often served with steamed vegetables and local alcohols such as Marave or different types of liquors, lagers, and wines.