Thansan War College Secondary Facility, Headmaster's office

State of Talam, Eudemon

September 13, 2558

"So you're saying that these accuracy tests are incorrect?!" Sovl Talam demanded at the shaking student. Too nervous to respond, he could only stifle a cry of protest.

"You are then unfit to attend this academy. I will no longer allow your tainted skills to spread amongst us!" He reached inside his desk, producing an energy sword, the same sword he had slain so many humans with. On the hilt was the crest of the once prestigious Talam lineage.

"Ah," A voice came from the doorway, halting the terror of the apprentice and Sovl's rage immediately diminished, as it could've been one of the kaidon's officials. Any displeasure with them could have the academy shut down and sent back to the war-torn Sanghelios.

"I hope I am not intruding." The tall muscle frame of Vaal Talam filled the room. While not as tall as the college headmaster, Vaal still looked up to him

"Vaal." He gasped, "A surprise visit by one of my star pupils?"

The former nodded at the apprentice, who seemed to shrink from his position, "Dismiss him. I wish to speak to you alone if I can."

"Of course." Sovl looked him in the eye, "You've gotten lucky this time. Remove yourself from my sight before I change my mind." Without another word or moment to hesitate, the young sangheili scurried off.

"I still remember your same policies of insubordination." Vaal smiled, "Those were the good days."

"Things have changed." Headmaster replied, "So Vaal, I don't think you've come here to discuss without a specific purpose in mind." He stood, using his height to show his swagger, "Care for tea?" He moved to the pot when Vaal nodded, still in earshot.

"That's correct. I was hoping that you could do something to help strengthen our relations with the human neighbors."

"Ah! I had forgotten that you were part of the peacekeeping task force. How is that going?"

Vaal accepted the glass cup from Sovl, "Our efforts are close to paying off, but we are currently taking on multiple new tasks."

"Surely you have shown that sangheili are superior?"

"Humans are more powerful than you think. Not just in their physical realm, but their prowess in creating ships and allies are impressive."

"Alarming, if anything," Sovl waved his hand in dismissal, "My academy ensures to produce the finest warriors possible. Keeping human influence outside and away is to ensure their purity. Adding for our rebuilding heritage as well."

"Ensure purity, or for your own benefits?" Vaal maintained a good relationship with his mentor, in turn, Sovl was immensely proud of Vaal. The Blades member had graduated with top honors and on his record, the attendance of the academy earned him his placement of the sangheili Commandos following only one tour.

"In order to keep Talam as well as the other states here in a positive growth, we must evict humanity from this world."

"I have to disagree," Vaal replied, "There is much we, as a species can learn from humans. Same thing vice versa. I have read that during some of their bloodiest conflicts, some of them held burning contempt for one another, be it traditions, nationalism or whatever. Although their progress was slow, different races of humans learned to coexist with each other."

"Human culture is ravaged by war." Sovl drained his tea with the current words of disgust. "They are belligerent unless they know they cannot win."

"Aren't we the same way?"

"Yes, but we are far superior masters of war."

"That's where your shortsightedness comes in." Vaal persisted, "See when you fought humans, you used not only your brute force, but sheer tactics of intimidation. A human would almost rather kill themselves than face a monster sized elite like yourself, whom will have no chance of succeeding."

"That's why they are cowardly. Either way, in conflict or not, they are still dangerous to live around."

"It is only that way because of security concerns. Don't bother them and they won't bother you."

Sovl grunted, folding his arms. Vaal held out his empty glass, which the headmaster refilled both of their containers with a fresh pot.

"I take it that you've instructed your ten to uphold the purity of the academy?"

"It's for the best." Vaal knew he was telling the truth, similar to an old human military academy novel, a secret organization was made to ensure that all who attended upheld the oath. Anyone who broke it was brutally beaten, tortured in ways defiant to race's rights. The secret organization would also attack anyone who wasn't among the others. Threatening and frightening messages were a common sight, with torture following if they were ignored.

The academy in the Talam lineage was among those to have conspired with a galactic scale, with rumors around the Covenant military about a new order organized by the elites. Of course, to maintain their high status, the Hierarchs dismissed any suspicions, indicating that any perpetrators would be immediately executed.

Every headmaster of the Talam academy has been accused of conspiring for an undercover revolution. For the Blades' sangheili's opinion, he trusted Sovl a great deal.

"I know what you're thinking." The headmaster seemed to penetrate his thoughts, "Any suspicions have been dismissed. You know that I fully support kaidon Akuo with everything I can. In fact, I was the one who led the elder's decision to elect him."

"I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Vaal sighed, "I wish you could have offered some help."

"Going back to your human compatriots?" It was almost as if he was taunting him to go back, "Even their treachery having controlled my star apprentice?"

A slight ember of anger built down inside him, Vaal had fought alongside Trip and his team countless times. Of course, there was some uneasiness between the two species, but the Blades were close enough and tight knit to almost be called one big family.

"Apprentice!" Sovl stood on his feet again. A different sangheili that was in his office before now stood in the doorway. "Show him to the entrance where he had come from."

The other elite nodded, leading Vaal out of the office. Before he could shut the door, Sovl stopped him.

"Just one more thing. How much can you really trust your human allies? With whom is you allegiance aligned to? How far are you willing to see our great state of Talam rebuilt?"

He still didn't have the answer when he left the academy, the place that trained his life's purpose.


Short chapter. Glad to see Sovl is on the kaidon's and Blades side. I wanted to get it out as an early release. As today happens to be my birthday. I feel old.

Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone! You give my writing purpose!