Already inside the house, I start to serve Jack, Caius and Naila a barbecue with beans, potatoes and juices. Although I don't think Naila will touch meat anytime soon, since I saw her throwing into the trash can 4 papers of chocolate bars that she probably ate on the way and couldn't find a trash can.
The kitchen utensils were not made of metal, but of a kind of polymer called gaxion. The grill and the stove were powered by small compartments with a considerable amount of biomass, enough for a family of 5 to prepare their meals for 2 months. The dining table was rectangular, made of marble, supported by 4 pillars also made of marble.
-I don't know why you don't like meat so much. You have a very strange palate for preferring soup.
The one who said this while I finished serving the juices was Jack, who, by the look on his face, was barely waiting for the meat to get to the point.
-Don't you dare insult my soups again. What I had for breakfast was enough.
-Ok, but it wasn't Jack who left the first round of the exam with his belly making more noise than a blacksmith's workroom.
-Shut the **** up, Caius. Just because you've already paid for my broken weapons doesn't mean you're in a position to be a pain in the ***.
The three of them can't help themselves and laugh. If there were a mirror nearby, I am sure that my face at that moment would be one of defeat.
We stop the conversation in the first five minutes when we start eating. Everyone was eating barbecue with potatoes, while I preferred to roast a white meat for myself. I don't like very heavy foods like red meat or bread, preferring foods like soups, white meat and vegetables.
Caius, as intimidating as he seemed, was a quiet person who joked around less frequently than Jack. But he was someone who was good with a fork. And I don't want to brag, but I'm good in the kitchen.
Jack ate with the desire to make the most of every sensation his palate gave him, making him a slow eater. Naila was only eating potatoes for the time being. Apparently she was still a little full from eating so much chocolate, which was rare.
-I am sorry to break the silence and the party mood itself, but I am not here just to offer my congratulations.
Naila broke the attention of everyone who had been focused on the meal, and was now focused on her. Keeping a serious look on her face and a piece of potato on a fork, she continues to speak:
-Keyner, you know that just by completing the first phase of the exam, the candidate becomes a member of the AWA, and I am very happy about that. But I'm afraid to report small unforeseen events that will delay your official transfer from aspirant to AWA research board.
Caius and Jack had serious looks on their faces. The two of them even dropped their silverware, keeping their gazes on Naila. I think that in this instant, they are no longer treating her as a friend, but as the captain that she is. After looking at the two of them, I retort:
-What kind of unforeseen events are we talking about these days?
-Keyner, do you know how exactly the soldiers use their technology manipulation?
-I started to have a vague idea in the fight against Caius, even though it was a fight in which he was containing. Were these assignments given to the examiner?
-Exactly, an examiner could easily kill a candidate, even if he didn't have a body limited to his own. What you saw was his ArcanaTech.
-ArcanaTech?
It was the first time I had heard this name, which was probably a result of some rule imposed by the AWA about not making comments about the combat skills of the military.
Naila must have understood what I was thinking, nodded her head in agreement and continued:
-ArcanaTech's are a mysterious and unique form of technology manipulation, with those of soldiers like Caius geared toward combat, and those of researchers geared toward support or search.
I look at Caius and he was as apprehensive about Naila's words as I was moments ago. In fact, those finishes that could take the form of any weapon were a problem for those he held as enemies.
-Unfortunately, we cannot understand why one person can only control his own ArcanaTech, since the ability to manipulate technology should be something common to all humans. The captains of the research sector suspect that this is linked to the-
-the 3 secrets of the world, isn't it?
Speaking before Nailla, she just agrees. The 3 secrets of the world, which consist of how humans with technology manipulation and the wizards came into existence, how the planet was still habitable given the amount of years that have not been counted, and how humanity survived extinction. My goal was to find the answer to these 3 mysteries, as utopian as that would be.
-It is thanks to ArcanaTech's that we are able to defend ourselves against monsters and the calamities we know as wizards.
The wizards are beings that manipulate the laws of this world using an unknown mechanism called magic. Wizards and humans used to live together, but this scenario changed 2300 years ago, when it was said that the wizards are calamities that would bring doom and misfortune to mankind, causing ok the races to separate. Another thing I would like to understand is what that really meant, of course, in the best possible way.
-I want you from now on to remain calm, since this kind of information is withheld precisely to avoid panic.
Naila looks at me with an increasingly sharp look, and I knew it was no wonder, since we were talking about the wizards. Now I cannot imagine why the focus of the conversation was on them. Imagining the worst case scenario, I began to imagine that she was going to tell me that we are at war, or that one had just been declared.
*Tec*
She gives a snap of her fingers, bringing my attention back to her face. Letting out a sigh, she continues:
-We have discovered that there are 2 wizards infiltrating Tecmetriun. Not only that, but for the past nine years, wizards have been coming in and out of the city freely...
-Wait, what the hell are you talking about?
I raise my voice, causing Jack who was standing next to me to put his hand on my shoulder, signaling with his face for me to calm down.
-Naila, do you think this has something to do with your brother?
She bites her lower lip, while Jack and Caius look at me in surprise. Not surprisingly, since it was a sensitive subject that we had agreed not to touch.
One similarity between Naila and me is that we have older brothers. However, the same year that my brother left home, Naila's brother was captured by wizards in an attack on the borders of Tecmetriun. Since that day, neither of us has seen them, which became a very delicate matter, even more delicate for her.
-Maybe. It is possible that they are using him to get in, get out and get the information that would be useful to them. Given the circumstances, you can already imagine what will be attributed to you that will delay your transfer to the research sector.
She says this, smoothing the hair that has fallen a little from her forehead, while with her unoccupied hand she puts a piece of potato on a fork. Of course, letting slip an expression of uneasiness.
-I'm going to be assigned to the border to do rear guard patrol, right?
Even though I joined the AWA, I had no battlefield experience, especially when it came to wizards. So I was hoping they would put me in a ranged observation unit.
-Right.
Naila says this, eating a piece of meat for the first time during lunch.
-In that case, is it confirmed yet?
-Not necessarily, because you don't know which of the 8 units you will belong to.
The AWA was formed by 8 units, Naila being the captain of the first unit. Each unit was made up of a captain, 5 sergeants, 10 first class officers, 10 second class officers and 10 third class officers, seeing this the descending order of the military hierarchy.
When the main course was finished, I served dessert, which was a lemon cake that I had made. In this case, for the boys, since Naila brazenly went to the pantry and came back to the living room with at least half of the chocolate I had hidden.
-Keyner, something I haven't had a chance to ask you...
Who was talking now was Caius, while he was on the second piece of cake.
-Who was it that encouraged you to join the AWA? And who trained you?
-I had two masters, one for fencing and another for pistol combat. The one for pistol combat you don't know, and the old man doesn't seem to want to be known, but he is an acquaintance of my parents and my other teacher, so he can be trusted. As for fencing, Mari is the one who trained me.
-Who is Mari?
Who was asking now was Jack, who surprised me by not having eaten even half the cake. But one thing I did notice was Naila with a very unfriendly face when I mentioned her name.
-Really, you don't know her by that name, since it is a nickname. I'm talking about Marino Sasaki.
-Call her?
I hear this answer out of nowhere, which makes me fall off the couch I was on. Not only was it surprising to me, but the other three were also wondering where the girl came from.
She was a girl about my age, with a triangular face and beautiful blue eyes. She had long, straight hair with a coloring that looked like caramel, but was two fingers short of black. She was wearing an outfit similar to Naila's, but that it was not possible to notice at first glance that there was a small octagon on the right sleeve of her blazer. Each of the four had this octagon, and each octagon had a star on one of the ends, but the position of the girl's star was different from the other three.
-How did you get in?
-Through the front door. Your parents gave me the key, remember?
-Captain Sasaki!
Jack and Caius made the same reference they made to Naila before we entered, confirming that this was Marino Sasaki, captain of the sixth unit of the AWA, my friend and fencing master.
-Hey guys. Do you still have cake for me?
-Of course Mari, I'll get it for you.
-It's amazing how you like to tease me, isn't it Sasaki?
The last to speak was Naila, who continued talking with a face of few friends, as Marino greeted everyone but her.
-Hey Jack. One thing I don't understand. Why don't these two get along?
-Apparently because Captain Sasaki was Captain Ketley's brother's unit, so the two of them spent a lot of time together. The captain must have been jealous, thinking that Sasaki was stealing her little brother away from her.
-I can hear clearly, Jack.
Naila looks with an intimidating look at Jack, who immediately hides behind me as if I'm capable of doing something. It was easier for me to die along with him.
-I wasn't ignoring you, Ketley. At least not completely yet.
-Keyner, excuse me a moment. My arm is itching to hit this girl.
I immediately grab some chocolate bonbons that I keep wrapped inside my jacket pockets, and head toward a garbage disposal in the living room.
Naila simply puts away her scarlet-bladed swords, which immediately elicits laughter from everyone in the room, including mine. Needless to say, apart from Marino, we all get hit in the stomach by the handles of Naila's swords.
-I don't understand why you defend this bitch so much.
In response, Marino shows his tongue to Naila. It took me and the guys to stop Naila from going after the other. I didn't know which was worse: one of the girls getting hurt in this prank, or me losing part of the house in a clash between two AWA captains.
Apparently, Marino was at the request of some researcher from Naila's unit to pass on information about some change in the patrol formation, because apparently the amount of monsters from yesterday to today has increased.
-Jack, why doesn't Keyner look straight into Captain Sasaki's eyes? To be more specific: why even though she comes here, they hardly exchange a word, since he is her only friend here?
-I have no idea, my dear.
Caius and Jack were the ones gossiping in the room. Very badly, by the way, because it was possible to know that everyone was listening to what they said.
As if there was nothing more to do or say there, Naila approaches the door.
-Jack, Caius. We need to go.
-Understood!
The two respond to Naila's signal, getting ready to leave, washing their faces and the cutlery they had used. Before they leave, I stop them at the door:
-Naila, Jack, Caius!
The three of them looked at me from the doorway, where I was standing in the hallway with Marino at my side. I move closer to them, and make a reference.
-Thank you... for everything!
I speak in a high tone of voice, realizing that tears are coming out of my eyes. These three are people who have changed my life, people who without a second thought I would be giving my life for them as many times as necessary, since I only find myself where I am thanks to them.
Naila had a sharp look in her eyes, and even when she was smiling, she couldn't take the seriousness out of her eyes. Jack was playful and always joking around with me or anyone else around him. Caius was always protective, a little more reclusive, but a great guy who was always willing to help me.
They were invaluable people to me, and even though I wanted to be someone who didn't depend on others, I couldn't imagine what I would do if something happened to these three.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. It was Jack, who stood right in front of me and must have guessed what I was thinking just by the look on my face.
-Relax. We are strong. And something you might not know: Naila is not only the person who broke the age record for promotion to AWA unit captain, she is also the only one among the five of us who has ever killed a wizard.
This one took me by surprise. I was aware that she was absurdly strong just because she was a captain, but that she had already killed a wizard was amazing. I look at Marino, and with a defeated face, she nods in agreement.
-See you after the code core test, Private Blake.
Naila was the one who said goodbye. I couldn't imagine the urgency of the matter, but as soon as within a few seconds they disappeared from my view of the high-speed residential area, I began to get a sense of it.
I am beginning to get a brief sense of combat, what the AWA and the wizards are. Should I really not worry?
Marino stayed at home, helping me with the cleaning and talking to me, wanting to know if the results of her training were effective. Besides, of course, having lunch a little off schedule.
-Two units are asking the administration to apply you in them, instead of making an allocation prioritizing the demand for new soldiers in one unit.
-I suppose that one of the requests was made by you. Who made the other request?
I had answered while cleaning the grill, while she cleaned the stove. When the other three left, Marino and I took a shower (separately, of course) and changed clothes. I took off my AWA blazer and pants, and got a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a black blouse. Marino, who was wearing the same uniform as Naila, except for the identification of the units in the octagon, put on green sweatpants and a yellow long-sleeved shirt.
-Naila. I thought it would be obvious.
-She said she didn't know which unit I was going to. And how do you know this when she can't stand to be around you?
-Uya. Jack told me while you were under medical treatment after the first round of the exam.
-If she finds out, Jack will be in trouble.
-Any opportunity to stress her out is valid.
She says this with a sort of evil laugh, which prevents me from not laughing.
After we finished cleaning up, we sat down on the couches in the living room, which were wine-colored. She asked for something to read, and I handed her some books that I knew she had not finished reading the last time she had come here.
Even though I was more intimate with Marino because she was more open with me, Naila was still my best friend, since I have known her since I was 5 years old, while I have known Marino since I was 8, months before my brother left home. Not that I am more open with Naila, but rather because given some circumstances, my friendship with Naila was stronger.
We were quiet for about 20 minutes reading, when I get a book straight in my face.
-May I know what this idea was?
-I'm waiting for you to find out which unit you are most interested in.
-Isn't it too soon?
-I don't think so.
I simply ignore her. Losing my will to read, I lay back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. But it was only for a short while, as Marino sat with his legs under his thighs in front of me, using his face to block my view.
-You... still can't give me an answer?
An answer. That's why, when it comes to friendship, mine with Naila was stronger.
A month before the first time I was going to take the AWA entrance examination, two years ago, Marino told me that he liked me. We already knew each other well, and I had been training fencing with her since I was 8 years old, already forming a good relationship.
I said that it would be better to discuss this after the exam. Not that I was trying to fool her, but because I was so focused on training that I was finding it trivial. She quietly agreed, until we started training again.
I failed my first test, and Marino thought it was her fault, for putting a psychological burden on me. I told her that it was none of her business, but the way I told her at the time, it made it seem like I really didn't care if she liked me or not.
A weak person with no capacity for anything and no place in the world. That's what I was, and I made it a priority to change that before I wanted to take any responsibility for someone's feelings. I don't think that someone who can't make himself or herself happy is fit to be the reason for someone else's smile.
But now, the exam has passed, and I am a soldier. There was nothing to stop me from giving an answer.
-You... like Ketley, don't you?
Marino asks me in a slightly hoarse voice, and it was noticeable that those words were difficult to say.
-No. I see her only as a friend. All I feel for Naila is gratitude for having helped me as much as she has helped me.
-If that's it, what differentiates her from me? Or is there nothing?
she asks me looking straight into my eyes, creating a bit of tension.
Who am I kidding? I could feel her breathing, and I knew that if someone put their hand on my chest, they would feel that my heart was racing.
-It's because... well...
-Why what?
she inquires in a slightly lower voice. The mood was not very interesting for me, but there was also nothing for me not to talk about.
I turn my face away, and say with a slight catch in my throat:
-I have feelings for you too...
-...
-...
Silence.
Strangely enough, I turn my head back to look into her eyes.
-Uya. Hahahahaja.
She was looking like she had had an absolute victory, while she had a mischievous smile on her face.
-You... bastard!
I try to punch her, but she is quicker and moves away from the couch.
-I already knew you had no feelings for Ketley, you have good taste. And I... I don't intend to speed things up, rest assured.
-Really? Too bad, I won't be barbecuing for dinner.
-You don't have to hold such a grudge!
As if on the verge of tears, Marino gets down on his knees while asking forgiveness for the provocation.
Heeding my future girlfriend's cry (as strange as it is to say this), I make barbecue for her, while I prepare a soup for myself.
-Keyner, tomorrow is the exam with code core, right?
-Yes, is there anything you want to comment on?
-Actually, yes. It's normal for people to pass out after this exam. I'm just telling you this so you won't be taken by surprise.
She says as she tends to the meat on the grill, while I simultaneously prepare juices and make my soup. Once the food is finished, we set the tables and start to eat.
-Keyner, why do you want to join the AWA? Since Ketley has already explained to you what we are up against, what is still holding you back? I'm sure there are other ways for you to get into the research sector, without having to go through the infant sector first.
-I... I want to have a place in the world to call my own, and the ability to do something for someone when they need it.
She was cutting the meat on her plate, but apparently wondered why I had stopped talking out of the blue. As she turned to me, her face flushed slightly, as I was pointing my spoon at her with my fingertips.
-D- then I'm the one who keeps teasing you...
-Hahahaha. I thought that would be a good one.
She looks at me with a look of superiority and frustration. When I realize, her left hand is holding a sword that who knows where she got it from.
-Not today, I've had my fill of fighting for today.
-I imagined.
After we were silent again, I remembered what we had talked about before dinner. Code core, a mechanism directly connected to Tecmetriun's power generator, capable of awakening and improving one's technology manipulation abilities. Tomorrow would be my contact with it, as the second phase of the exam.
I prepare two mattresses to sleep on in the living room, one on the left side only of the sofa, and another on the right side, since she was going to spend the night at my place. We stay reading for a while, until Marino breaks the ice:
-Keyner...
-Yes?
-Can I sleep with you?
-A little bit of fun and I'll throw you out of the house.
We laugh, so that we stop at the same time, with both of us showing signs of sleep.
-Morrow is an important day, so you should sleep. A good night... Private Blake.
With a smile on my face, I imagined a single way to answer that:
-A good night, my dear Mari.
-Really, and you complain that I tease you too much.
After speaking in a somewhat irritated voice, the silence in the room begins. Our breaths can be heard, and coming into sync, we both fall asleep.
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