Page 17 of The Last Dragon
We stand in silence, watching Hunters line up in the corner to receive their crossbows and practice bolts from the other lieutenants. Those who already have theirs are practicing, some even hitting near bullseyes. They’ll need more training, but I’m confident Commandant Lorren can teach them how to wield the weapons properly. I only gave them the basics.
On the other side of the room, mats lie scattered for sparring, and cadets have already begun. For Trackers, split-second decisions are crucial. They must solve problems instantly while keeping a close eye on their opponent.
I catch a glimpse of Nida on the mat, warming up her wrists. She stands opposite another cadet, probably someone she met during the Assessment Year. Most likely a tracker like her. I lean back to get a better look at the other cadet. She’s of similar height and build to Nida. I wonder what her Division is and if she’s Nida’s Hunter.
“Someone you know?” Wain’s voice snaps me back, and she gives a gentle laugh. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
I clear my throat. “An acquaintance.”
The smile on Wain’s face grows wider. “No acquaintance makes a legendary soldier stare and become unfocused.” Her voice rises slightly at the end.
Unfocused.
I’m as focused as I can be. Perfectly focused.
“She was a childhood friend,” I admit, forcing my head to drift to the opposite side of the room.
“I had a lot of friends come and go since I became lieutenant,” Wain says, straightening her back. “One of the mistakes I made was getting myself attached to them.”
I nod. She gets it.
“However,” she continues, “an even bigger mistake is trying to rip them out of my heart when they’ve already planted themselves there.”
I narrow my eyes. “I thought you were a firm believer in avoiding our emotions.”
“Only when necessary.”
Her voice is cold, and I get the hint that she wants to avoid this conversation. It seems to have stirred something inside her—memories long buried, reopening like a box secured by hundreds of locks. Instead, I remain silent, my eyes briefly wandering, curious to see how Nida is sparring. But instead, she’s sitting on the mat, a towel pressing against a split lip, while the other girl sits beside her. Both laugh and smile, making my stomach twist with irritation. My gaze returns to Lieutenant Wain. I need to focus on something else.
“Why didn’t you accept the role of Commander?” I ask. Not accusing—just curious. But it comes out sharper than I mean it to.
Wain turns her head toward me. Her eyes stray steadily, narrowing slightly, like she’s weighing the cost of answering. Then she looks away, to the training ground. To the soldiers sparring. To the initiates fumbling with their crossbows,sweating through drills while waiting for orders. For someone to notice them.
She tips her chin in their direction. “Because someone has to stay with them.” Her voice is quiet. Almost too quiet for the chaos around us. “Everyone’s so desperate to climb the ranks. To be Commander or Commandant now that Lorren’s growing too old.” Her eyes track a younger soldier adjusting his stance. “They want the title, not the burden of teaching people how not to die.”
She turns back to me, her voice quieter. “When they leave for battle… I want to believe they might come back.”
That lands harder than I expected. Because I know what she means. I look down. Then back up.
“But as Commander,” I murmur, “you’d still ensure they return.”
Wain’s lips curve in a slow smile. “As Commander, I’m handed soldiers who are ready. Soldiers who already know what they’re doing. They inherit the product of a lieutenant’s work.” Wain shifts her stance. “That’s where I want to be. That’s the change I want to make.”
I don’t answer right away. I watch the soldiers move. Sweat on their backs, fire in their hearts. Her words ring in my head again, and something inside me coils.
“I’m not fit to lead an expedition,” I admit. The words are dry in my mouth. A truth I’ve known for a while. But saying it aloud burns.
She arches a brow my way, and disdain clouds her face, but her lips curve wickedly. “You’re making it sound like I didn’t do my job training you.”
A rough laugh escapes me. “Should I drop to the ground and give you twenty?”
She snorts, eyes glittering as she shakes her head. “Twenty? From someone like you?” She folds her arms across her chest. “I’d want to see two hundred. Fourth-year.”
I laugh. From the corner of my eye, Raumen and Ilian come into view. Ilian is here because he’s a Hunter, training in crossbow maintenance. But seeing Raumen here confuses me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask when they approach, both grinning in a way that makes me feel slightly uncomfortable.
“Well, since you’re nowofficiallyin our unit, we figured it would be fun toofficiallyaccept you!” Ilian laughs, but his words just make my eyes furrow and my jaw slightly unhinge.
