Page 96 of The Last Dragon
“You saw what that dragon did!”
“We’re not ready for this!”
The crowd surges with emotion, shouts echoing off the stone walls as order starts to crack beneath the weight of their fear and fury.
“We cannot do this to them! They’re our home!”
“You’re asking us to trust Scouts who couldn’t even warn us last time!”
“Exactly! We lost half our squad before anyone even saw the beast!” More and more cadets join in. Voices rise from deeper in the room.
“Now the villagers are starving, they need more protection than ever!”
I turn my head and notice Alex flinch, as if he too wants to speak—but his hand curls tightly over the armrest of his chair, anchoring himself in place.
The general clears his throat. “We will send them rations, but we are running low on material. We must think of the best possible solution that won’t lead to the downfall of humanity.” His voice is calm, strict, and monotone. But the soldiers—especially the first-years, still too new to mask their emotions—aren’t falling for it.
“Then take some from the Center!” A second-year pushes back from her seat. For a second, it almost seems like the general’s eyes gleam, but it quickly fades. “They hoard everything! It’s about time they gave us more!”
“Yes, we’re the ones who sacrifice everything to keep them safe!”
A chorus of “Yeah!” and “He’s right!” bursts from the crowd, chairs scraping, fists pounding against tables. The once-orderly room shakes under the weight of boiling frustration. Cadets stand, shouting over one another, their voices overlapping in a storm of fury and fear. The air turns electric. It isn’t just disagreement anymore—it’s rebellion simmering beneath the surface.
“Enough!” The general’s voice slices through the uproar like a blade,silencing the room in an instant. “I will not have insubordination in my Corps—nor will I hear doubt in your voices ever again.”
He takes a step forward, gaze hard as steel. “You think shouting louder makes you right? You think panic and fear will save your families?” He pauses, scanning their faces, letting the weight of his words settle. “If you want to survive, you will listen. You will fall in line,honorably. You will fight like soldiers, like you are taught, not children throwing tantrums.” The room remains silent—the General taking back his control, though I doubt he ever lost it. It takes me back to two years ago—a similar uproar happened after the Gate, where hundreds of soldiers were killed. The general continues.
“I specifically said there will be Scouts guarding the outskirts, watching the dragon’s movements,” he repeats this firmly, but as I scan the room, I see not everyone is convinced—not Eryca, nor Ilian. Their village lies furthest out.
“The Scouts will be strategically placed around the borders of each village and every square,” he says, approaching the map. His body is tense, but he takes a moment to steady himself. “I understand this may be difficult for many of you to grasp—these past few days have tested us all,” he continues, turning back to face the crowd. “It may have affected your thinking, yourdiscipline. But I have never once ignored the safety of our villagers on the Front. They are crucial to our survival, and their protection will be ensured.” His voice hardens. “If you have personal concerns, bring them to your superiors or come to me directly. But I will say this for the last time—I will not tolerate any uproar in the Corps. If you want your family and loved ones to share the panic you just felt, so be it. But know this—I am acting in the best interest of humanity.”
He does have a way with words—so much so that, for a moment, even I almost believed him. But the expressions on the faces of those who have seen the beast remind me that unless you’ve witnessed its form, its state, and its fury firsthand, you’ll never truly understand just how doomed we really are.
CHAPTER 32
To ensure the Hold’s safety, soldiers are assigned to various duties to strengthen security and patrol the perimeter. I’m stationed with Sam, working on strategy and analysis, and preparing for the next expedition alongside the commandants, the general, and the lieutenants.
Raumen’s shift has doubled—patrolling one day, maintaining the ballistas the next. Eryca and Ilian spend their time crafting bolts, while Nida and Alex rotate through the Medic’s Wing, helping with various tasks to free up time for the medics to focus on the injured. The days blur together, excruciating in their pace. We barely have time to eat—just bread on the go, or cold soup if we’re lucky. No time to reheat it. We hardly see one another, except during sparring or unit drills. Eventually, a single day lines up when we are all on break at the same time—the only time we meet outside the training grounds.
“My feet are killing me.” Ilian sits on the dirty ground, stretching his legs to alleviate the pain.
“You’re one to talk,” Eryca says, rubbing her neck.
“They’ve been using us up like machines.” Ilian stands.
“It’s only for now. They’re working up a new strategy for the expedition,” I say, stretching my back. Hunching over the map for hours is catching up with me. I’m not used to sitting around this much.
“Well, they better get it done soon.” Alex rolls his eyes, his voice sharp as daggers. “I’m tired of constantly having to scrape blood off the floor like a cleaning maiden.”
“The Corps has finally seen you for what you’re worth,” Ilian snaps, his eyes narrowing at Alex.
“Yeah, because sitting around like a mindless monk gluing feathers to sticks is such a dream job,” Alex snaps back.
“Hey, those bolts save your ass,” Eryca fires back, jabbing a finger at him in warning.
“I can save my own ass, thank you very much.” Alex’s body tenses up, and I let out a sigh.This again.
“Can you shut up for just one minute?” I mutter, pressing my fingers to my temples.
