Chapter 21 - Training (1/2)

Soon Blair returned to the tent while Valeri was telling Lydis some stories about their travels.

”Oh! Blair, tell Lydis what you did the first day patrolling!” She chuckled thinking about it and gestured for Blair to continue wherever she had left off.

”U-uh.. um. Do I really have to?” Blair shifted on her feet, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. The praise and excitement she felt earlier were slowly dissipating.

”Ah, if you don't want to.” Valeri made a dismissive motion with her hand and whispered into Lydis's ear. ”On the first day she was so eager that she agitated a nearby ant valley and we had to run all night long. Then the next morning when we thought it was over they somehow tracked her scent and we were surrounded. I really thought that that was where I was going to end!”

”Captain!” Blair was embarrassed. To make such a rookie mistake was unbefitting her current demeanor and it wasn't something she had wanted to recall. Valeri stopped and gave Blair some face.

”Although a rookie new to our squad she fit herself perfectly and synched with the other members movements not allowing her to fall behind at all, instead I think a few were saved by her assists here and there as well as her kill count during the fight. You wouldn't believe she was a rookie if she hadn't caused the situation.” Although still embarrassed about the story, hearing Valeri praise her Blair quickly let it go and was now swimming in pride at have been praised again by her captain. For her it was very lucky to get praise no matter how small from her captain.

”Hmm.” Lydis seemed uninterested in the story and an awkward silence followed.

*hmph* ”Little girl, come and fight me if you don't believe the captain. I'm sure I'll only need one finger to make you succumb.” Blair was a bit annoyed at Lydis since she hadn't even heard her say 'thank you' to her captain and the little girl even casually called her captain by her first name! So rude and stuck up, Blair found a new source of passion for wanting to straighten out and reprimand this ill-mannered punk.

”Eh heh… Don't mind Lydis. I'm sure you guys will get along just well.” As Valeri got off the top of the crate Blair stopped her.

”If I may ask, why are you taking so much care for a random child we found?” Valeri stopped and the speed that her brain processed at that moment was faster than that of an advanced A.I., allowing her to come up with the right excuse in a second.

”She's a survivor of the train wreck. Though she doesn't remember much of anything of it. Or even herself. I guess the shock to her mind was too severe and caused her to have amnesia.” Valeri gave Blair a sad look, trying to sell it as much as she could. Valeri raised one hand to cover her eyes. ”And to be left without anyone to care for her I've decided to take her in as my adopted daughter. So, I hope you'll take care of my daughter.” Blair was moved. Her captain really had a kind heart as big as the skies, to be able to take in a child as one's own and adopt them without a second though! Blair's admiration of Valeri grew even more than she thought possible.

”Yes ma'am!” Blair saluted and allowed Valeri to walk past her.

”I need to attend to some business so I won't be back until dark. I leave Lydis in your hands Blair.” Blair nodded and kept saluting until Valeri had fully disappeared from the tent, the flaps falling together to cover the entrance.

”Now, Lydis.” Blair turned around to see Lydis eating her fifth or sixth food ration. Blair assessed Lydis's situation and silently sighed to herself. How was she supposed to teach anything to a child who only has one arm? Much less spar with her. Lydis stopped eating upon noticing Blair's extended gaze at her missing arm.

”What? Never seem someone missing an arm?” Lydis waved her nub around in circles and pointed it at Blair. ”Does it bother you?” Blair had been in the scouting squad for over six years and during her time there she had seen many sites filled with carnage and even more grotesque things. She had also seen comrades die and had torn her fair share of enemies apart.

”No. It's just the way it looks. The wound doesn't look old, but it doesn't look to new either. I'd say maybe year old?” Blair continued to inspect Lydis's arm. She walked over and lifted it towards the light. Lydis grumbled a bit but was too occupied finishing her sixth wrap to care too much.

”Interesting, the scarring of the tissue looks jagged and yet it also looks intentional. Like a sloppy masterpiece.” Lydis gave a small grunt and began to rip open her seventh wrap. Just as the food revealed itself Blair took it from Lydis. She was about to go into a rage when Blair held up one finger.

”One hit. Land one hit on me and I won't bother you for the rest of the day.” Blair waited for Lydis's answer while holding her breath. A short pause before Lydis nodded in agreement.