The training grounds at my base were buzzing with activity; several brigadiers were practicing their strikes and techniques against dummies and targets under the open sky. But my focus was on Kenji, my newest disciple. He's showing incredible progress, becoming skilled at a faster pace than any of his colleagues.

  His debut in the Tournament of the Cogs left much to be desired, but he's already proven to be creative, even if far from practical. But a few days later, he did a great job capturing that couple of scoundrels; it happened in the blink of an eye.

  Since then, he has continued to improve his handling of the katana, making his strikes faster, more agile, and more precise, regardless of the weapon to wielder ratio.

  "C’mon, c’mon!" I yelled, encouraging him. "Channel the fury of the god who lends its name to your blade!"

  And with that, in a flash, he cut the dummy in half. With the same efficiency I had seen in one of my first disciples… Tsundora Kibishi. His momentary cold gaze mirrored her same total discipline…

  "Chief, are you alright?" Kenji asked, tilting his head to the side in that innocent way of his. "You seem a little worried."

  "Nothing much," I adjusted my glasses, "I just remembered... some stuff."

  “It's Kibishi, isn't it?”

  “How d’ya know, kid?”

  "Well, it's just that…" he looked away, "your energy has been kind of low ever since she took Winter's place. I saw you disappear before sunrise, looking tense."

  "What a clever boy." I smiled as I ruffled his hair. "But that's the chief's business, okay? Now why don't you go chop up another dummy or talk to your colleague, Maya?"

  “Okay…” He walked across the camp.

  Sometimes I forget how observant he is—he's even surpassing my vision. But if he's going to become great, let him take my place to protect better than I could, instead of using my teachings for his own selfish means. I can already see Kenji as an infallible warrior, but also compassionate, doing everything for the greater good.

  Now, the more I think about that… (I want to call her a traitor, but she didn't abandon us out of malice) …deserter, the more I think about doing something about it. I might be doing a good job with Kenji, but she's still in the back of my head… bothering me.

  I bet if it were Cacto, she would have already attacked, and I'm thinking of doing the same.

  I have to go to my quarters. To prepare my lesson plan for one last lesson.

  While I was looking at my map, planning my route, I saw a pair of headphones. They ended up there after Lotus had called me and another colleague of hers.

  Putting on the phone, I called her:

  “Hello, Lotus?”

  "What is it, Leona?" She replied a second later.

  “I'm going to pop over to the Order's headquarters to… gather information.”

  “Okay. I just ask that you enable the GPS; just press the button on the back. Which way are you going to enter? I bet they've already received orders to arrest you on sight.”

  “I still have the ventilation, don't worry! By the way, shouldn't Steel be here on the line too?”

  “He is still looking for someone to work part-time in his place.”

  “Okay, I'll let you know if I make any discoveries or run into trouble.”

  So I set off, after checking my ammunition, this time using energy bullets—I would never kill her, but it's going to hurt like hell.

  The sun was already approaching the horizon, the perfect time; more shadows appeared and there weren't many patrolmen yet. Tearing off the duct cover, I squeezed myself inside the ventilation.

  I should’ve thought of a better route; the pipes are covered in dust, there are several screws ready to tear me apart, and I feel like the steel could collapse under my weight at any moment—I knew I shouldn't have trusted Hollywood!

  I startled so bad that I almost fell over when Lotus spoke to me through the earpiece:

  “Leona, are you there?”

  "I'm inside the vents." I whispered.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “How clever. Anyway, change of focus: I think you should check out Kassidy.”

  “Can't your sister do that?”

  “She's at an even greater risk being there than you do.”

  “Okay.”

  Every inch I covered was precarious; my elbows crawled so they wouldn't be impaled by a rusty screw, my knees were suspended in the air to prevent the steel from collapsing, and my lungs got clogged with more dust every second.

  I heard several snippets on my way: a grumpy man demanding payment after a failure, soldiers arguing about who should be in command, someone making a baby voice to a rabbit, and other things.

  Then I heard something horrible:

  "Come on, Lieutenant, just tell me what did the Cog want!" a gruff voice said, cracking a whip.

  “I… already… told you… She just wanted to protect her friends!”

  It was Kassidy! I would love to put the lesson plan into practice, but I have more urgent matters.

  Shaking myself inside the ducts, I managed to make myself fall, crushing the man below. In front of me was a cell and a battered Kassidy; his hair unties, skin redder than usual, and on his knees on the floor.

  “Kass!” I yelled, already knowing that being sneaky was pointless. “Where's the key to this cage?”

  "Leona?" He coughed. "Only the commander has it..."

  “Then consider yourself lucky, because I was already looking for her. I only came here on Lotus' orders.”

  I took a brief moment to assess the surroundings; it was a dark and small prison, containing only about twelve cells. The torturer let out a scream, but he's already unconscious. It's only a matter of time before she comes here.

  Before anything else, I drew my revolver and fired at the padlock, which had no effect as the bullet's energy dissipated.

  "Shit." I muttered.

  "There's no way around it... only the key can open it." Kassidy whispered.

  “Okay, as long as you stay here, things can't get much worse. I'll discuss something with your commander.”

  "Never take your eyes off her." He said, now more firmly.

  Flinging the prison door open, I found myself face to face with the corridors… and Tsundora, glaring furiously at me just inches from my face.

  “Out.” She whispered. “Now.”

  Startled, I jumped over her as she turned to her back, her eyes tracking me.

  "Your classes never ended," I said, drawing my revolver, "It's time to graduate. Your last lesson? Morals—"

  Tsundora lunged forward before I could finish speaking, already thrusting her spear in my direction.

  “I have already learned everything I need to know; your style is obsolete.”

  I pointed the revolver at her:

  “Are you really going to tell me that a spear is more practical than a firearm?”

  “You do not even have the courage to kill someone, rendering it useless.”

  Smiling, I pulled the trigger. The energy bullet hit her in the shoulder; it didn't pierce, but it burned. Tsundora didn't even flinch, she just narrowed her eyes.

  "True courage is not killing," I twirled the revolver in my hand, "and still being certain of victory!"

  Tsundora then snatched the revolver from my hands with a thrust, throwing it to the other side of the corridor. She didn't waste a single second before attacking me with a flurry of spear thrusts, the blade scraping against my ribs as I ran to retrieve the weapon.

  Enduring the pain, I managed to retrieve the gun and, back against the wall, I emptied all four remaining bullets in the barrel into Tsundora's forehead, momentarily interrupting her attack and giving me time to reload.

  But before I could get up, she threw her spear, pinning me to the ground by the tail of my kimono. There was no way to get her off the ground; something was holding her there.

  "The world does not need show-off 'heroes' to the likes of you," she said. "It needs people who get the job done."

  "You disgust me." I growled.

  "The feeling is mutual." She took the spear back. "Do you still insist on 'correcting' me?"

  "I'll keep going until you change your mind!" I yelled, jumping to the side.

  I don't stand a chance against her…

  …but I know someone who does. I'll just evade it until she arrives.

  “Lotus.” I said into the earpiece. “Call your sister, things have gone off the rails.”

  "Calling backup? You are stooping low, even for your own standards."

  "Everything you say will only fuel her anger." I growled.

  "Foolishness, you sent my target straight toward me, you do not deserve an ounce of respect!" She shouted, advancing again. But this time I just dodged, without counter-attacking; all I can do now is wait.

  Come quickly, Cacto.