I just want to thank Genshadow for pointing the mistakes at the last chapter. His review really helps me found out what was wrong and not.
and sorry if it's not in the highest quality. life have been busy lately
Chapter II
School Life
1920 4th October
Officer Cadet School, Parisii
2 officer stare at a boy in front of them wanting to join the military. "I'm sorry but we can't accept children to join us. Besides you are young, come back when you ar-"
"I know that is odd for someone at my age to join the military But I want to serve my country and win the war! Please let me prove myself!" she said with the deepest voice she can get
The two-officer look at each other and sigh "very well then, but first we need to check your magical residue. He said as his partner when ahead and put the magic aptitude device on her. She put on the helmet and the officer turn it on and see the meter for measuring. The device seem to be working like a Geiger meter.
At first there are slow beeping when suddenly the meter when up until it reach max; the 2-officer mouth was gaping with surprise before turning off the machine "can you please wait here?" one of them said when he signals his partner outside and both of them left her alone in the room
The 2 recruiter dial a number on the telephone and dial a number
"Is there any reason for you to call?"
"We found an inhabituel"
The line was silence before the voice speak again
"Are you sure?"
"Oiu, we are sure… but he's a child, can we let him in?"
The voice from the other phone line sighs, "I understand your concern but the skirmish on the Rhine is going to be successful, but we to need to prepare for the empire counter attack, so we need all mages that we got in order to prepare ourselves, give them the conscription paper"
They both let out a sigh and put the telephone back
She waited for about 20 minutes before the 2 officer came back with a piece of paper "What is your name?" they ask
"Olivier Vernier!"
They both look at each other before nodding writing her fake name on the paper which contain the Francois seal "Welcome to the Military, Olivier.." he said giving her the paper
She took the paper and salutes "thank you, sir!"
"I will show you where you will be staying"
Dormitory Building
"Great, now that I'm in. I should have access to clean water and good food, but I also have to consider the possibility of me being send off to war is also very concerning and also add to the fact that the upper high officer are very reluctant to let me join due to my age, thankfully my magic aptitude is enough to convince them. Getting a position on the rear is also impossible, judging by their reaction"
The Officer stop when they reach a room "this will be your room." He said opening the door
She walks in to see three other cadets talking to each other before noticing them. "hello gentleman, this is Olivier Vernier. He will be sharing rooms with you…"
She put on a fake smile "it is nice to meet you all. I hope we can all get along.."
One of them stood up "Romuald Pomeroy"
"Jean-Paul Fournier…."
"Edmond Carrell. Nice to meet you too"
"Carrell, could you please show Monsieur Vernier around the school?"
"Yes sir!" he turn to Olivia "follow me please"
Olivia follows him. The officer peek back to see them disappear to a corner
"If I may ask, sir why is there a kid in the military? Is the situation on the front that bad?" Romauld asked
"No, not yet but the higher up fear that after we occupy the Rhine. the empire will then focus their attention to us. that's why they want more mages before that happens to give us a fighting chance"
"But why do we have to resort to children? I thought we fought to keep them safe," Jean said
"Believe it or not, we didn't force him to join. He volunteer himself to join. And his status as an Inhabituel makes him a valuable asset to the republic"
"He's an Inhabituel?!"
"Yes, I can't believe it myself, for such young age to have such potential. Which is why I want you to keep an eye on him. He maybe talented but he is still a kid so I want you to report to me if anything happen to him, tell this to private Carell too,understood?"
They both nod silently
A few weeks later…
Classroom
"The studies in the school was easy. They only teach you about chain of commands and tactics. I have to say it was easier than the modern Japanese school curriculum that I studied."
"Vernier!"
She quickly stood up
"You are ordered to destroy an enemy battalion. You only have a battalion of mages in your command. What do you do in this situation?"
"Quick question how the weather is at the moment?"
"Let's just say it was cloudy"
"Split the battalion into 4 teams and use the clouds as cover to attack the enemy from all direction. Disorienting them with fear and confusion and then use the opportunity to finish them"
"Very good. On to the next lesson…"
2 months later
shooting Range
"The gun were much heavier than I thought. It feel like I'm trying to lift a barbell"
Olivia with her room mates are doing a competition "remember the one who shoot the farthest have to treat everyone for a drink" Edmond said
"Whatever you say, Carell" Romuald said aiming his gun and pulling the trigger
His shot landed on the corner of the target "damn it" he cursed making Edmond laugh "watch and learn." He said aiming the gun. He pull the trigger and the bullet completely miss the target leaving him dumbfounded while Romuald was snickering while patting his back "looks like you're going to go bankrupt tonight" he whisper to his ear still smirking
Edmond lower his head in defeat as Jean aim with his rifle and it landed near the middle of it "my aim is getting better…"
"Vernier! Your turn!" Romuald called
He walk toward a stall with a rifle in her hands
"Heh, this will be easy or as the western people usually says a 'Piece of cake' "
She quietly aim the gun at the target and put her finger on the trigger. She smirks
BANG!
Because of her body and age, the recoil of the gun was too much for her and the stock ends up hitting her in the face knocking her back and dropping the Rifle. She soon realize her nose is bleeding and a big bruise in the middle of her forehead
"Well that was embarrassing"
"Vernier, are you ok?" Edmond asked
She look toward Edmond holding her nose "I'm okay… I'm just need to go to the infirmary"
"You want me to accompany you?"
"No, you don't need to, I can go there myself." she said as she walk away
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Ah it's probably nothing. The nurse will have him healed in no time," Romuald said
Jean nodded before looking at the target. "Jean? What's wrong?" Edmond asked
He silently look at the target, which now have a bullet hole in the middle of it "I can't believe I lost to a boy"
Infirmary
Olivia enter the room greeted by a dark haired girl
The nurse looks at Olivia bleeding nose "let me guess. Recoil accident?"
"Oui."
The nurse laugh, pulling a chair "here, sit" she said grabbing medicine from a medical kit
Olivia quietly sit down as the nurse treated her bleeding nose and her bruise
"I seriously don't understand why a kid like you are in the military, did they conscript you?"
She grunt in pain before answering "no, I volunteer to join"
The nurse seem to be staring at her with a confused look before tending her again "you kids are weird, you should be at home with your parents and do what kids usually do"
"Sorry, but I have no parents. I was raised in an orphanage," Olivia answered
The nurse seem to stop before starting to put a bandage on her forehead "I'm so sorry."
"Oh no. It's okay, you didn't know." She said smiling
The Nurse put the cotton in her nose to stop the bleeding "there, all done!" after she is done she observe Olivia face
"Is there something wrong?" she asked
"Oh, it's nothing. For a moment I though you are a girl"
"Eh?"
Olivia started to sweat and nervous "Damn it, did she notice? I thought I cover myself pretty well…."
"But it was probably just my imagination, maybe because you remind me so much of my little sister" she said
Olivia let out a mental sigh of relief "that was close. I though she will call me out"
"My name is Lise Cailloux. Nice to meet you"
"Olivier Vernier, nice to meet you too"
"What a cute name…" she said pinching her cheeks
"Please stop that…"
A knock come from the door and a joyful Romuald appear "hey Vernier, are you done yet? We are going to the Bar"
"Looks like I have to go. Thank you, Mrs. Cailloux." She said walking to the door with her patched nose
"Try to be more careful next time," she said waving her hands
Cafe
"I thought you were going to treat us to a bar." Romuald said drinking his drink
"If I took you to the bar. Olivier here won't be able to join us wouldn't he?" Edmond answer slyly
Romuald scoffed "you are just using that for an excuse!"
"What did you order, Olivier?"
A Waiter come to them and put a glass of milk and a cup of tea" Here are your order monsieur"
"Merci" she said. The three cadets stare at Olivia who quietly put the milk into the tea and stir it with a spoon before drinking it. She notices this "what?"
"You are a weird kid..."
Finally! This chapter is finished. The gun recoil part above is because it happened to me once XD
Short story. My uncle have a rifle, try to shoot a fox with it, and come back with a broken nose and a bruise. Fun fact: it is not a pleasant experience…
Also about the milk tea part. Yea I was like "fuck it! Put it in" so sorry if that does not make any sense or lore-friendly during the time.
Edit Note:
many thanks to genshadow for pointing out some of the mistakes
Subsurvivor : Yes, it was a Jojo reference in chapter one and he was joking at the moment. so just ignore that little tidbit. sorry for the confusion!
Guest: whoops, my bad