Following his blind guide, Ethan walked halls he hadn't in a long time. He had missed this atmosphere. Unlike the conspicuous opulence of the main building, this secluded division displayed a more austere aesthetic. There were no priceless works of art adorning every wall nor flawless creations sculpted into every column. The structure seemed to be filled with military pragmatism, and the students he saw along the way reflected this view.

  While the basis of their uniforms remained the same, they had removed every superfluous trace of luxury, from the gold lining the fabric to every kind of jewellery or adornment. They made pragmatism and discipline their entire way of life. It was even reflected in how they walked and their eyes.

  While in the main building, Ethan would be mostly ignored, but sometimes, he could feel many gazes linger on him from far away but would vanish if he ever were to look back. On the other hand, the people here didn't shy away from staring. In fact, their gazes were more searing than anywhere else.

  However, he knew they weren't filled with mockery or ridicule, far from it. It felt more like doubt and caution, almost as if they were always on edge, ready to respond at a moment's notice, brandishing their blades in a single instant to reap his life. It felt unnerving, but Ethan preferred this to the alternative, especially for what was to come.

  "I am sorry you have to follow me, as I am sure you know the way, but it is protocol. I'm sure you understand," the young man said, lightly tapping his stone staff upon the hardened floor as he used the echo to locate the way.

  “Perfectly,” Ethan replied, following closely. “I’m happy this place hasn’t changed much since I last stepped foot in here.”

  “I hadn't been admitted yet when it happened, but as I understand, this division didn't always used to be like this. From what I've been told, your sister was at the forefront of many changes. Some, the Division Head adopted, but others were deemed too excessive even for us.”

  The young man turned slightly toward Ethan, showing a slight smile despite none of his steps missing a beat. His impairment notwithstanding, the man was confidant and self-assured, a far cry from many others whose basic state of mind was built on arrogance and self-aggrandizement. He seemed to be what many sought to become yet would never reach. Even Ethan felt slightly envious of this man.

  "She has that effect on many people," Ethan replied. "They either love her or hate her; there is no in-between. She once told me that indifference is the worst insult you can ever receive because it means that who you are and what you've done does not matter."

  The man remained silent for a moment, chin raised slightly higher and forward as he pondered, only to chuckle soon after.

  “An interesting philosophy,” the man said. “But, what about you? I am interested to know your thoughts on the matter, considering you share the same blood.”

  “That’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?” Ethan said. “She and I couldn’t be further away. We have almost nothing in common.”

  There was a lot of sourness in his tone, which the young man picked up on almost immediately. His gaze became slightly gentler, which couldn't help but make Ethan somewhat uncomfortable. Still, what he saw on the man's face was far from pity.

  “Why would you say so?” the man asked. “Everyone is special in their own ways. There is no need for you to always compare yourself to others.”

  “If only it were so, but the world is built on competition," Ethan lamented. "You either make the cut or suffer the consequences. The only question is, how severe are they?."

  “You and your sister must be very close.”

  “Not particularly,” Ethan replied, frowning slightly. “Why do you say so?”

  “Because your attitude towards life resembles hers," the man said, but now his tone was slightly sadder. "You are quite harsh on yourself."

  “The world is a hazardous place for the weak. I simply can't afford it."

  “So, you believe being harsh on yourself will allow you to be strong?”

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  “If it can allow me to stay alive for one minute longer, why not?”

  Ethan didn't know why those words came out of his mouth, but somehow, he didn't regret saying them as the man before him showed no judgment, just a slight interest. Also, the fact that they were both strangers and were unlikely to meet again had been factored in already, allowing Ethan to show a side he had rarely demonstrated.

  After a long moment of silence, which somehow Ethan didn’t find awkward, the man finally added, “Isn’t that lonely?”

  This simple question shook Ethan to his core. It took everything from him to repress the surge of emotion seeking to burst like a volcano, scorching the land all around him. His teeth were clenched, and his fingernails dug into his palms, almost drawing blood, yet the worst of it was the small traces of moisture threatening to emerge. Fortunately, they evaporated into the air as soon as they made contact, allowing Ethan to remain as stoic as he could. However, his steps falter just enough for the man to notice.

  "My apologies. I shouldn't have asked," he said calmly, walking away in silence before finally reaching their destination. "With this, I bid you farewell. May you finally find what you truly seek."

  His voice lingered as the man turned and walked away, leaving Ethan standing before a closed door engraved with the emblem of the Martial Division. Ethan looked back, only for the man to have already disappeared. He couldn’t help but frown as they were at the end of a long corridor, and all the doors had remained closed, yet the man was nowhere to be seen.

  “Who’s there?”

  The voice originated from the other side of the door, yet Ethan recognized it. Although he hadn't heard it for over two years, it remained the same as in his memories. It was deep and authoritative, commanding dominance over whoever was on the receiving end.

  “Division Head. It’s me, Ethan Lancaster. I’ve come regarding the upcoming expedition.”

  Ethan's voice boomed with uncanny force. He wasn't accustomed to this, but he knew the man behind the door liked it this way. In the hopes of making this negotiation smoother, Ethan didn't mind going out of his way to appease him.

  “Finally, you’re here. I’ve been expecting you. Come in.”

  The man's tone was neither angry nor frustrated, yet Ethan couldn't help but feel it deep in his bones. After taking a deep breath, he finally summoned the courage to open the massive door, only to be met by a mountain of a man.

  Through all senses of the word, the man resembled a bear. He was tall, and his shoulders were broad, much broader than anyone he had ever seen before. He wore a simple shirt and pants—something unusual for someone of his position—yet it seemed they could barely restrain the bulging muscles underneath. With any sudden movements, it felt like they could rip and uncover the deadly weapons this man's body was made of.

  Before Ethan could even say a word, the man leapt toward him, wrapping his massive arms around his body and then squeezing with the might of an ox. Ethan felt his breath cut short as he felt himself lifted off the ground. However, by this point, he was barely conscious of his situation, desperately trying to get himself out of this deadly situation.

  On the other hand, the massive man barely noticed Ethan's current situation. In fact, he had a big grin on his face. His joy couldn't be more apparent. He seemed like a dotting grandfather being reunited with his progeny after a long time. The only problem was that neither men were related in any way.

  “Ethan!” the man shouted in a hearty tone. “Finally, after all this time, you decide to pay me a visit!”

  Although he wished to respond, Ethan was too busy fighting for survival to hear what the man had to say. Finally realizing Ethan's current state, the man let him go, only for Ethan to feel a burn run through his chest as he gasped for air. Despite it all, the muscular man showed no remorse, just a large grin plastered on his face.

  Once Ethan had finally regained his breath, he calmed himself down. Ethan could do nothing to this man despite wanting to, as he knew he didn't mean it. As he was, he could barely control his strength. This was the primary reason this man was relegated to administrative work instead of being on the front line. This was already a well-known fact throughout the whole of the Imperium. Getting mad would get him nowhere.

  “It’s nice to finally see you again, too, Division Head,” Ethan finally said after his cough had receded, yet a slight tremor remained in his voice.

  “Division Head?” the man frowned. “Why won’t you call me like you used to?”

  "I wouldn't dare," Ethan replied as he straightened himself. "This is an official matter; proper decorum should be observed."

  "Bah! You and your sister are the same in the weirdest ways!" The Head said as he let himself fall backwards in his large steel-reinforced chair, only for Ethan to see it almost buckle under the man's weight. Fortunately, it seemed to have resisted the impact again, but how much longer it could do so was unknown.

  "Sir!" Ethan exclaimed as he saluted the man, striking the right side of his chest with his left fist. "I take offence that you compared me with my sister. The two of us are nothing alike!"

  The man burst out in a hearty laugh, yet Ethan's expression remained completely impassive. He only waited for the man to be done in complete silence.

  “Your gaze is just like hers,” the man finally said after regaining his calm, yet a large smile remained on his lips. “You both look at others as if they are fools, but she doesn’t bother to hide it, unlike you.”

  “I would never dare to think this way about you, sir!” Ethan said strongly. His face was a mask of stone, betraying no emotion, yet the man showed an amused smile.

  “Sounds like something she would say, doesn’t it?” the man said playfully.

  “Sir, if we could get back to the matter at hand,” Ethan interjected, trying to regain some semblance of order.

  “Ha, yes." the man replied, finally calming down, if only slightly, yet his voice still boomed with a hearty enthusiasm. "I've been informed you've been tasked with the logistics of this operation. Honestly, I don't know what that old bat is thinking."

  The man shook his head, yet Ethan could only make it seem like he hadn't heard anything. However, inside, he couldn't help but want to scream. He didn't even want to imagine what might happen to him if any other individual were to have heard that. Only this man dared to talk of the Dean in this way. Not even his sister was that brave.

  “I was told it concerned the recent situation I found myself in,” Ethan said. “Somehow, they believe this will make it blow over, though I doubt it.”

  "It will; give it some time," the man smiled. "Spoiled children are quick to forget. Once something else catches their attention, you won't even be a memory. No, the real problem in all this is the faculty. Some of them couldn't wait to complain. It's been a real headache."

  The man sighed, slowly rubbing his temple, yet Ethan was shocked by this sudden admission. He didn’t expect the faculty to believe in mere rumours spread by students of all things. He thought they were better than this.

  The faculty? Something smells here... What are they trying to achieve?