BERUN

IMPERIAL ARMY OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL

UNIFIED YEAR 1920

"Imperial Meritocracy my ass."

Being halfway through my training in this damned school of torture, my poor young self is now in charge of another group of equally miserable cadets in a bout to exercise my leadership skills. I can feel the looks of doubt on me, of which I don't feel at all surprised considering my height has not even grown an inch. It seems I have been cursed with the same woes that Tanya finds herself in, wherever the hell she is now.

"Men! I am Magic First Class Mentor Bermanst. The following weeks shall test your will, your tenacity, and your faith to our glorious Empire! If your love for our nation is not firm, it would be best of you to strip yourself of the uniform you wear before your filth stains it!"

Apparently, I had done well enough in my studies so far that they deemed me ready for this position. Though I knew they would place me in charge of such a group at some point, I didn't think it would be so soon. No matter, I guess I shall do my utmost as I have been doing all so far to make sure that I can pass this with at least an above average mark, just as I have with all my other classes. This was another surprise to me as well, with Tactics and Strategies being much more interesting than I had imagined. Despite my lack of knowledge and memory other than large operations that had happened through history in my previous life, it was extremely rewarding to be able to use my imagination through these classes. Really, the only class I had struggled in, and unfortunately the most important, was mathematics. Oh, woe is me!

Knocked out of my thoughts, I had at some point finished my monotonous speech. I really didn't pay attention to what I said anymore, as after a year of training my instinct, whatever exited my mouth would be patriotic drivel. As long as I didn't say anything too radical, I should be fine enough. Looking back at the countless pairs of eyes, it seemed that most of the emotion I would believe obvious was doubt, with what is probably a tinge of contempt among these soldiers. I shall do the bare minimum. All I need to do is just train and guide these men to competency, and that should be easy enough. Its not like there is much I can do to surpass that minimum anyways when the goal is simply for them to pass…

When I had first saw him, the first thoughts I had were doubt. A young boy, barely half the height of most of the men in the Company, fit in a polished and neatly combed uniform. His wavy blonde hair short to regulation sprawled under the weight of the seemingly large cap, and his piercing green eyes laid upon each and every member of the Group. He was observing us, and with his posture and gaze, the doubt soon turned to tension that I could feel among my peers. It was when he opened his mouth that I had knew that this child, this temporary drill segreant, had a reason for being present despite his age. His speech, verbose with strength and patriotic in all means were fit to his flaming eyes, filled with a fervor for the Empire unmatched by all around us, enough to fill my heart with heat.

"It is my duty to inform you all that you are not yet soldiers of this magnificent state. You do not yet have this right, and as of now you are only students! You are nothing more than insects under the colors that fly above us. Every morning, you shall salute to me and this flag! When you train, you will understand this flag as I have for the years I've lived in these beautiful lands! When you sleep, you shall dream of it, and all of the meanings it holds! If you feel that you will fail, remember what you are fighting for on these grounds. Volunteers such as you all have a reason, whether it is family, land, or glory. Remember your motivations! Remember your duties! You now have responsibilities that must be met under the standard of Imperial Honor!"

The speech that droned into our hearts that morning was one we were forced to remember. The boy did not let us rest. He would never let us give up, and yet he was always there with us. Whatever training we did, no matter what it may have been, he did the same, guiding us through it all. My pride, unable to watch as a child did that of which I felt difficult, forced me forward. My thoughts of protecting the country, for which I volunteered, became greater as the days passed. Soon enough, I found myself not attempting to compete with our Mentor any longer but respecting him and following. Love for the nation that put all around him to shame, a dedicated effort to excellence in all that he does, and the seemingly shining light he emitted as he guided us forward. There was a point where we hadn't even noticed that we had surpassed all other student groups, only serving to better ourselves, to make the Empire and our brilliant Kaiser proud.

Months of difficult drill passed under Mentor Bermanst. Not a single soul left the group, nor did anyone complain, whether privately or publicly. Despite the sweat, tears, and general blood we suffered through this accelerated and much more challenging training, no one faltered. We couldn't, for the task given to us by him could not be failed, and as long as that flag flew high above that platform, we could not disappoint the expectations that were asked of us.

As the weather turned cold, and our breath misty, we seemed to have come to a standstill. In the tight formation, I stared forward to the figure that trained us to become the warriors we were today. All of us did. Even though I could not see his face with the barrier of snow that seemed to cover the air, I felt as if he may be smiling. We are now soldiers, loyal to the Empire, loyal to the Kaiser, and forever grateful, to Mentor Bermanst. I firm my eyes, gazing upon the short figure that seemed ever so tall, hearing the
deep breath as his last invigorating speech to us began…

"Well done maggots! You have finished your training to the highest standard asked of you! The Empire is proud of you, The Kaiser smiles upon you. You are no longer simple students, but combatants under the doctrine of our ever-growing machine! We are cogs that keep this Nation running, that keep our people happy. Remember this always!"

This must be a joke. The cold weather that seems to cover my frail body does not stop me from feeling impossibly warm due to the fiery eyes of the rigid soldiers below me. I really didn't do much. My leadership is above average at best, but the placement at top of the student class is barking otherwise. This must be some type of plot from that insufferable being, a miracle or something evident to that nature, for all I did was just tell them what to do! Despite my misgivings, it does not stop the fact that after a few months, I have nurtured the creation of an excellent company of soldiers. This will do well on my record, sure, but the added responsibility this early in my new career is not appreciated. Oh well.

I seem to have forgotten how I had even gotten to this point. The time has passed so quickly, from the moment I blatantly lied to my evaluators in this very location that I joined to give my life to the Empire, to the first flight that seemed to force me to rip my acrophobia off my body, and to the exceptional marks that seemed to fill my documents. It wasn't fun, it wasn't pleasant, and it surely wasn't deserved. I've been wronged! However, this does not stop the fact that it will soon be the twenty first year of this century, and there should be only two more left before all out hell begins. In fact, I should be leaving this academy soon before that devil enters. I would regret this, but I'd rather not meet her now anyways. Walking down the hall to the office of the Instructor, I can only wonder where my next assignment will be before my graduation.

"Franz Bermanst…"

Looking upon the record with furrowed eyes, The Colonel seemed to speculate as he knocked his fingers upon the wooden desk. The photo of the adolescent blonde boy stared back at him, seemingly penetrating into his own eyes. His slick uniform was lacking dust, and despite his feeble physique, he seemed to be filled with strength and conviction.

Aptitude that had been measured as Class A during testing, almost shattering objects against the roof. An immediate plea for enlistment on his own terms to the invigilator of the test with a firm call. His declaration, and wish, to give his life to the Empire that nurtured him, despite the lack of cultivation shown on his boned cheeks. He surpassed his classes, he adapted faster than his colleagues, and despite his vulnerabilities in mathematics, he worked vigorously to fill the gaps of knowledge. He is a gifted mage, seemingly born with the aptitudes of a leader, and absolutely devoted to the Empire as a whole. His most recent report done has been the finished mentoring of a group of cadets.

The soldiers he controlled became top of the class, seemingly following after the imprint of their honest leader. Fanatic, devoted, and determined. They will become fine officers, but now comes the final assignment for the young boy who made them as such. Viewing over the file, the Colonel seemed to think of something, his clear eyes gazing to the map holding the Empire within the middle, and the surrounding nations. His pupils landed simply between the Empire, and the Francois Republic, not a waver in between.

"To gather familiarity with those swine in the West. The tension has continued to rise in the last few years. Though The North is the same, Id rather him get more used to those fools lands who we've fought for generations. I'm sure he will be more than happy to fulfill his duty as the very image of an Imperial soldier."

Convinced of his choice, the Colonel smiled in what could be construed as triumphant, thinking his decision as completely rational. His pen flew across the paper, staining ink that would never be able to erase, solidifying the future of this young and promising leader. With the loud clink of a lime imprint, his career was sealed in satisfaction.

My pondering is of course answered in quick nature, as expected of the Imperial war machine. My final assignment lists me as a Magic Warrant Officer, sending me for field experience in a training deployment to the fine lands of the Western border with our friends the Francois! How pleasant! Obviously, this is not what I think. I am not all too enthused to be employed onto a front that I will probably see warfare in, though it will be more than two years before such conflict occurs, renaming this hellhole its rightful label as 'The Western Front'. The skies are drab gray, if I may say, and there is nothing I am doing other than consuming awfully tough bread and drinking murky water to get the valuable experience of a frontline tramp. This wasn't what I was thinking when they told me they would give me guidance, as it seems more like a punishment than anything else.

It finally came to January later that week as I drowned myself in my own misery, mulling upon a new year I find important as my young friend Degurechaff will most likely enter the academy. I say friend, but I don't know if it's possible to find friendship of Sociopath. I don't think that's entirely possible really, but maybe we could have a slight relationship by subordinate depending on my actions in these lands for this period of peace, as my rank may actually be higher in the beginning. If I show ability as a leader, maybe that 'monster in the clothes of a girl' as that guy Rerugen likes to say will actually bring me into her thought bubble. I don't know how sociopaths think, but that might as well be my best bet at trying to survive this dreadful world. I gnaw into the damnable substance lovingly named 'K-Brot' by my colleagues, my eye twitching.

"Curse you, Being X…"