The third floor of Argentum's militia hall was the Captains' office. It was a rather plain room with three long windows on one end. The walls were kept dull and plain. A large red circular carpet lied at the center of the room littered with books, discarded papers, and coffee stains. Two mahogany work desks were positioned at far ends across from each other. But the difference in organization created a definite contrast creating an image where two rooms, one resembling clear water – the other thick oil, had mixed together.
The flickering from the flames trapped within the lamps resonated throughout the office.
The desk on the left side had a mountain of paper resting on top of it with a silver helmet on the side. A golden spear leaned against the wall. Sitting behind the desk, adorned in armour and cape, was none other than July Rose.
"Urrgg…" She groaned for the umpteenth time with her face resting on the smooth surface. "There's so much paperwork to do…I don't want to do it."
Indeed, the role of being a Captain was a job heavy of responsibility. It wasn't just slaying grimm and inspiring her subordinates. That's what everyone seems to think. The third floor, where only a select few could enter, was where the true darkness remained locked away.
Documents, documents, and even more documents!
The blonde Captain was mentally drained. And what's worse was that it was only evening. She still had the entire night to go! All she wanted was to spend time with her little sister – but nope! – the council just had to spring her with this. She would have been finished by now if her equal had contributed as well.
Half open silver eyes stared at the sloppy desk across the office, full of discarded novels and dusty knick-knacks. The wall was aligned with stuffed bookshelves. Her expression broke into a scowl. "You said you'd be back in a year – it's already been two! When I get my hands on you Trajan, I am going to personally – "
There was a knock on the door. Her hunched composure immediately straightened in her seat. "Come in." She said with authority in tone.
Her Vice-Captain stepped in with a fidgeting '#1 Captain' mug in hand. The crisp aroma of coffee rejuvenated her senses. Ah, she knew she made the right choice in choosing her! "Um…I-I figured you might n-need this, C-Captain." Camilla seemed to be more focused on her spear rather than her as she placed it on the desk. July immediately reached for the coffee mug.
July smiled. "You're a life-saver, Camilla."
She buried her face in her scarf, her skin clearly matching the colour of her cloth. "I-It was nothing!"
"So, anything noteworthy on your afternoon patrol?"
"It was mostly peaceful." She responded.
July bit the inside of her cheek. Peaceful? There was nothing wrong with that per say. But it did feel rather off when the patrol reports have been saying the same thing for the entire month now. She hadn't gone off on one of her "walks" lately, either. The last time she went was when she fought against that abnormal alpha.
So, what on Remnant was going on in that forest? A part of her felt relieved from the low grimm activity, but another part felt paranoid for an unseen enemy plot. Hmm, she'll have to arrange a scouting party to investigate.
She blinked. "Wait, what do you mean by 'mostly'?"
"I…uh…found a nevermore." Camilla started playing with the hem of her scarf.
"I see." She took a sip from her cup. "One-shot?"
"Eh? Y-Yeah. I used an arrow filled with red dust. I-I just got lucky, that's all." She looked rather embarrassed by her achievement. July couldn't help but harshly exhale from her nose. Luck? The Vice-Captain was just lucky?
Honestly, this girl was a piece of work.
"See, that's what I don't understand," July said, placing the mug down. "Nothing can stand in your way if you're alone. Whether it be a band of bandits or a whole pack of grimm. But the moment one of our warriors or villagers are around, your shots miss even at point blank."
Camilla's shoulders shrunk at the comment. "I-I'm sorry – "
"There's no need to apologize." July got up from her seat and walked around the desk, "I'm just making a comment based on my observations, that's all. All you need is practice."
"P-Practice? But I train every day and – eep!" She let out a startled cry when July placed her hands on her shoulders.
"I mean your social skills, Camilla." July had shifted her tone into a softer, less professional, tone. It was how she casually talked with Summer. "If you can improve your self-esteem and communication skills, then I have no doubt you'd be the strongest warrior in Argentum. Possibly even stronger than me."
"W-What?! What are you saying, Captain Rose? I c-can't…it's impossible!"
"Impossible?" July asked with a raised brow. "Are you referring to the weak self-esteem, communication, or surpassing me?"
"Yes!"
"Okay…?"
She cleared her throat.
"Anyways, I have a something that may help you." July reached for a brown envelope on her desk and tossed it at her junior. "Here."
Camilla fumbled with the item in her hands until she finally hugged it against her chest. "What…what is it?"
"Oh, you know…" She started casually before dropping the lightning bolt, "…just a little mission request from the school. Nothing too big; just a shopping spree for new equipment in the other town next week. I already have a team prepared."
"You want me to accompany you?" The Vice-Captain asked.
"Oh no – I'm not going to be leading the mission. I'm not even going. Too much paperwork to do." She points at the stack just waiting to be painfully processed. "You're going to be leading this mission."
"…." She stared at the Captain with a blank, unreadable expression.
July reached her hand out, "Camilla?"
"WHAAAAAAAT?!" Camilla jumped back, her eyes wide and alert.
July brought her hands up and slowly took a few steps forward. She had learned how to deal with her little sister's tantrums when she was a toddler. It was times like these where she had to ensure that she was on Camilla's side. "Camilla, I need you to calm down. Social communication isn't going to kill you. I'm only doing this for your own good. Think of it like…exposure therapy."
"I…I…" Her eyes were darting in random directions.
July caught her eyeing the door. She wouldn't dare…!
"I have the right to deny dangerous work!" With tremendous speed, Camilla sprinted for the exit, but it was all in vain when July, with tremendous reflexes, tackled her onto the floor and trapped her in an arm lock. Her cape fluttered with a flourish.
"Dangerous is subjective – especially in our line of work. I've shown you the patrol reports already, there's nothing to worry about." July kept a soft tone when she spoke, though if anyone saw the way her eye twitched, they would have realized that Captain Rose was nearing the edge.
"…"
"Feel ready to talk like adults now?"
"I…I'd like to use my authority as Vice-Captain and assign someone else for the role of the leader!" Camilla cried out, frantically squirming to get out of July's iron hold. But it was pointless. Not only was July physically stronger than Camilla, but her armour added extra weight to overcome.
Literal sparks ignited from her eyes. "Authority overruled by Captain."
"Then I'd like to resign from the militia – EEEP! My arm! My arm! Ow! Ow! Captain, you're pulling on my arm too far! It's going to break! You're going to break my arm!"
July leaned closer to Camilla's ear. With a wide smile and gentle eyes, Captain Rose whispered, "Resignation denied."
"Please, Captain!" Camilla suddenly sobbed, tears of desperation pouring out of her eyes. "Don't make me go! I'm begging you!"
Oh? So, she's resorted to begging? Cute, but it won't work on her. The years of looking after her little sister have fortified her resolve. July respected her Vice-Captain, and it hurt her seeing the poor girl unable to express herself. What she was doing was cruel, but it was necessary.
"Communication is key to leadership!" She pulled her arm even higher much to Camilla's dismay.
Tough love.
"OWWWW! At least let me go alone!" Camilla pleaded through the pain. Her right arm was enveloped with a purple hue of energy; her resonating aura protecting her from further damage.
Alone?
Bargaining?
Captain Rose was having none of that in her militia. She tightened her grip and twisted the arm. A subtle current of electricity coursed into her restrained Vice-Captain. "You're going to be leading a team and that's final!"
Camilla's entire body spasmed from the literal and metaphorical shock.
"~Somebody please help me! ~"
Well,there you have it. Considering chapter 9 was long, I think I can be excused for having a seriously short chapter 10. And woah, chapter 10. This is the first 10th chapter for a story that I've ever reached so props for me.
I should probably do something special. So, I'll tell you a little secret. Overlord was actually my 3rd attempt at an SI-OC story. The other two were failed drafts.
Starting with attempt #1
RELOAD
I didn't expect to be reborn into Remnant after getting killed. Nor did I expect to end up becoming the partner of some idiot detective. Or somehow ending caught up in Ozpin's conspiracies. Oh, and let me be the first to tell you that immortality sucks.
We have SI-OC named Blank and the lovely Signal dropout detective Fia go out on crime-solving adventures that end up mostly solved from Blank having to rewind time thanks to his SAVE – LOAD semblance. The only catch is that he has to shoot himself in the head in order to access the Reload menu. Dropped it because it sounded too generic and not eye-catching enough.
Attempt # 2
The Queen's Apprentice
If you were reincarnated into your favourite show, you'd want to help the good guys, right? Well, my case is the opposite. No one told me that I'd end up working for Salem…or that everyone in Remnant was idiots.
A massive misunderstanding comedy story where our poor SI-OC, "Placeholder name: Steve", gets mistaken for an evil psychopath and ends up being recruited into Salem's circle. Anytime he tries to do good, it backfires and gets misunderstood for something horribly evil. Everyone thinks he's corrupt: from Cinder fangirling over him, from Watts seeing him as a genius who's 10 steps ahead of everyone, from Hazel seeing him as a secret combat badass, to Salem considering him a potential successor. The only person who actually believes him is ironically Tyrian, who is his only friend in Remnant. Dropped because I couldn't see it last long term.