Entry Three:
Three long months have passed since my last entry. My squadron's special mission was to overtake a town: Maranda, to be specific. Its townspeople were allowed to become decadent and unfocused, which was a threat to the mighty Empire, and thus had to be destroyed. We executed a night-attack, catching the imbeciles completely off guard. There turned out to be a Returners base there, and we demolished it, killing all of its members. I personally killed fourteen, which caught the attention of my superiors, apparently, who are very pleased with my performance. The only cloud over that day was a single instant when I hesitated to follow through. There was a girl who must have been about my age. She was dressed prettily in a blue flowered dress with a silk ribbon in her hair, and I wondered if I would have been like her had I not been born into the Empire. Of course this thought is ridiculous. She was weak, allowing herself to be so frivolous, but she cried out to me. I had not expected her to address me directly, and I was momentarily startled. She said, "You're a killer of beauty and serenity." I did not think about this statement at the time, being concerned with ending her pathetic life, but now I ponder it late at night. I still do not understand. Perhaps I will ask Leo about it later. After the town was torched, I was summoned to return immediately to the capital, Vector. I was not surprised to speak with dear Gestahl, who has treated me so well over the years, but Leo and another general, Kefka, were there. I have heard of Kefka but never seen him before that day. It is rumored that he is insane, but only in hushed whispers, for he is a favorite of the dear Emperor. Supposedly he was once one of the most intelligent members of the Imperial force, but his mind has decayed to the maturity of a child. The reason behind this is not quite clear, but it had something to do with his being injected with the power of the espers. The process was not perfected and he changed forever. But at the meeting, he was incredibly quiet for a while as dear Gestahl smiled his benevolence at me. Then he said that my successes were not to be overlooked any more, and that I deserved a far higher rank than my current one. Then he promoted me to general. Me, Celes Chere, a general! This is the first step towards realizing my goal. Leo was grinning kindly as I received my inauguration, but Kefka was glaring at me. As I returned to my room, he followed me and I thought he meant to slay me. He congratulated me, however, and said I ought to let my emotions die or the enemy was sure to breach my shell. Then he just walked away, leaving me stunned. From that day on my training began. I learned to wield magic as I had not before, and my strength augmented tenfold. Finally my orientation is completed, and tomorrow I will wake as a full-fledged general of the Imperial army.
Three long months have passed since my last entry. My squadron's special mission was to overtake a town: Maranda, to be specific. Its townspeople were allowed to become decadent and unfocused, which was a threat to the mighty Empire, and thus had to be destroyed. We executed a night-attack, catching the imbeciles completely off guard. There turned out to be a Returners base there, and we demolished it, killing all of its members. I personally killed fourteen, which caught the attention of my superiors, apparently, who are very pleased with my performance. The only cloud over that day was a single instant when I hesitated to follow through. There was a girl who must have been about my age. She was dressed prettily in a blue flowered dress with a silk ribbon in her hair, and I wondered if I would have been like her had I not been born into the Empire. Of course this thought is ridiculous. She was weak, allowing herself to be so frivolous, but she cried out to me. I had not expected her to address me directly, and I was momentarily startled. She said, "You're a killer of beauty and serenity." I did not think about this statement at the time, being concerned with ending her pathetic life, but now I ponder it late at night. I still do not understand. Perhaps I will ask Leo about it later. After the town was torched, I was summoned to return immediately to the capital, Vector. I was not surprised to speak with dear Gestahl, who has treated me so well over the years, but Leo and another general, Kefka, were there. I have heard of Kefka but never seen him before that day. It is rumored that he is insane, but only in hushed whispers, for he is a favorite of the dear Emperor. Supposedly he was once one of the most intelligent members of the Imperial force, but his mind has decayed to the maturity of a child. The reason behind this is not quite clear, but it had something to do with his being injected with the power of the espers. The process was not perfected and he changed forever. But at the meeting, he was incredibly quiet for a while as dear Gestahl smiled his benevolence at me. Then he said that my successes were not to be overlooked any more, and that I deserved a far higher rank than my current one. Then he promoted me to general. Me, Celes Chere, a general! This is the first step towards realizing my goal. Leo was grinning kindly as I received my inauguration, but Kefka was glaring at me. As I returned to my room, he followed me and I thought he meant to slay me. He congratulated me, however, and said I ought to let my emotions die or the enemy was sure to breach my shell. Then he just walked away, leaving me stunned. From that day on my training began. I learned to wield magic as I had not before, and my strength augmented tenfold. Finally my orientation is completed, and tomorrow I will wake as a full-fledged general of the Imperial army.