This is a Youjo Senki Fan Fiction Only.

For some strange reason, I found myself with Tanya in the tent of our Commanding Officer, somehow I think Victoriya had something to do with this. Does she even understand the concept of the chain of command?

"2nd Lieutenants Sturm and Degurechaff, it has come to my attention your recent accomplishments in the defense of our glorious Empire, and also that you both receive your officer's promotion without having attended officer's training. I have put in a request to have you both receive a promotion for your actions, however, High Command feels that it is necessary you undergo officer training before that promotion is even considered."

So basically they want to take us away from the front and this is their excuse. As soon as I heard a few theories began to form in my mind, first would be public relations, they would want to limit how much exposure or bad publicity would be generated by having two people before they are even considered teens fighting in the front lines.

They probably never expect us both to survive and excel as we have, the idea of child soldiers was never very popular, not even in my previous life. The second would be a petty reason, if officers hate having two kids do more than they do, it would make their ascension up the ranks even harder.

It is no understatement to say that the time I spent with my friend Tanya in the front probably has been the most efficient and productive time of any unit in our current camp. The rifle she gave me was, for lack of a better term, a blessing. I could chamber a lot more powerful spells and at a high rate than before. It helps when your weapon does not explode after the fifth shot. This was bound to rub some people the wrong way.

The last was simple, Victoriya use her visual tactics, her sex appeal as it were, and had a whole lot of men complain about how cruel it was to have two kids as young as their own children be fighting in the front lines, when we could be doing something more age appropriate such as being sent to school.

As I think it, I will admit it Victoriya is no slouch when it comes to the looks department, and before the last incident I had with her, I imagine she pictured herself as either a potential girlfriend if not a person I would consider a surrogate sister, how naive can she be? I am no innocent child that needs protection from a harsh world, Being X makes my life hard enough without having something like this make the situation even worse.

"So in short, both of you shall be transferred to undergo officers training and shall be given a post at the base where your officers' school is located. I expect you both to be packed and ready to ship out by this evening. It has been an honor being your superior officer and I expect to hear great things from both of you in the future, dismissed."

We both offered a salute and left towards our tent. "Doesn't this seem a little fishy to you, Tanya?" I just couldn't hold back the question as we walked towards our tent.

"Of course it is, but then again I am not going to complain when they give us such an easy assignment, I know, I know, you are going to complain about you missing the chance to test out all these new spells you been thinking off. I remind you because of that certain someone we have to live to old age, and any time we can be away from where the bombs, bullets and other horrors are flying past our ears is a good choice."

I can't believe her, she wants to get promoted quickly, well field accomplishments are a way to do that, in fact, the general just told us that this is the exact reason why we are being sent to an officer training school in the first place. "So we get promoted enough so that you are the person in charge of the supply line at a base, and spend the rest of our days doing nothing but paperwork, is that your idea of paradise?"

She looked at me and smiled this smile I know only too well, the sort of smile you would never expect from someone as young as she looks, it was the smile of a person they used to call trade floor sharks, these people were ruthless, I look like a saint by comparison and I wrote a report how churches and hospitals could be legitimate military targets.

"I do, you know very well what I did before getting where I am, so to me all the paperwork in the world is better than working at a place where bullets fly, you can set your watch by the explosions and bathroom is worse than a public swimming pool, and the food is stuff not even beggars consider edible."

Well, the tents are roomy, the bathroom is spacious, the food is really not that bad, I had worse, and the explosions after a while you just stop noticing them as much. Compared to some of the places I have been deployed I am better accommodations than what I expected.

"Well, I am packed and ready to leave today, since you are in a hurry to leave I imagine you are already packed, if not, could I have you help me carry a few boxes of munitions? I only packed five, somehow I think I will need three more but between the bullets, explosives, and mines, I simply ran out of space."

She looked at me as she walked near me, "Karl, we are leaving a battlefield to go to school, not going to need all that stuff. One box of ammo for your rifle and that is enough. You sound paranoid when you say things like that, we are going to be stationed in the main base that is in the capital of our glorious Empire, we have nothing to worry about there."

I could tell her that she was wrong, that in war there was no such thing as safe territory, but I was carrying both of our luggage as we walked towards the transport station. Fine, Tanya wants to think this is safe territory, well I will leave our safety on this trip to her, see how she likes to be surprised, and if nothing happens I get to take a nap, win-win.

As we got into the cabin I placed my luggage and hers on the overhead bin and decided to lean against the nearest seat and closed my eyes, I am really tired, what the hell did Tanya pack in her bag? It felt like I was carrying an entire section of the armory for crying out loud, I think I sprained a shoulder.

As I closed my eyes, everything went silent, all I could see is black, 'At least you are not taking your surroundings for granted, tell me, child, how much must I do for you to return to being faithful to me and pray? Don't tell me you did not notice the boon of education I have bestowed upon you and your accomplice.'

I really don't need this right now, "Look Being X, you want me to thank you, for putting me in a situation where I have even more chances to fail? And if I succeed well that is more responsibilities and tougher requirements on what the Empire will expect from me. They will educate me truly, but to them, it is an investment, and they will want to profit from it."

"You still refuse to return to being one of my faithful it seems, I took it easy on you out of mercy, I shall have to rectify that, if you shall not offer me your prayers in gratitude, I shall make it clear how much your life depends on me. When you face difficult times from now on, remember you earned it with your ungrateful attitude."

Being X finally left, it is bad enough the seats were hard as stone, but to have my tormentor basically take credit for something my superiors did, and then threaten me when he didn't get his way, if I remember this when I wake up, I should tell Tanya, she will find it funny.

As I ate breakfast I told her about my latest conversation with Being X, and I really wish I had not done it when she was eating, she laughed so hard she spilled her drink all over me. I guess I should be thankful for our current lousy conditions that the tea was cold, or else I might have gotten some rather nasty burns.

"So he complained like a spoiled brat about you not bending over and thanking him, you know something in my previous life my superiors never once scolded me for not praising them, then again I often did even if not asked but that was my choice, if Being X is expecting praise from me for doing nothing but cause us trouble, he needs to wake up."

I had to agree, as a career military actions speak louder than words, if I did something correctly that is simply what was expected of me if I deserve a promotion is was earned. "Well aside from a pest disturbing my sleep, are you ready to get booted off to school? Cause I got to tell you, I am not happy about this, not happy at all."

She smiled this smile I know so well, "Oh, I imagine that you being away from combat, missing your chance to blast enemies of the Empire into dust is making you sad, I know how much you simply love being in combat Karl, I have no doubt the enemy will be giving thanks to Being X that you were sent away from the front lines."

I took a bite of my bread and looked at her, "If looks could kill, I would be getting ready for my funeral, don't be that way Karl, once we are promoted we might even get our own unit, which means we will get to go much more difficult missions and the prey you love to hunt will improve in quality if not quantity."

I looked at her as I finished my meal, "I hope so, Tanya, I really hope so, or I might lose this sunny disposition I have. If the enemy thinks they have seen hell, if what you say doesn't happen, they will wish they had killed themselves when I get back."

This caused her to smile as we took the trays with our dishes back to the counter. "Thank you for the meal." I didn't even get to see the cook but that doesn't mean I would not be grateful for it, never mess with the people that prepare your food or you will pay the price for it later.

They must be in a real hurry to get off away from the front lines, they gave us our train tickets, and they even went as far as packing our bags. I wouldn't even have the rifle Tanya gave me had I not been carrying it with me when I went to eat my breakfast.

As soon as I arrived at the station, we were told we would be given a private cabin aboard the train, this doesn't sound right, something about this is making the hairs on the back of my neck stand, and there was a feeling like I should be cautious of my surroundings, a feeling that we may be in a train, but combat will happen sooner rather than later.

"Tanya told me that you at least have a pistol. I don't like this one bit, I don't see any other people in this compartment of the train, an entire section of the train just for the two of us? That is not likely, we are not high enough in the chain of command to receive this treatment, not even generals get treated like this, something stinks."

She sat down on the seat right in front of mine, "Or maybe you secretly hope that we get ambushed so that you don't get bored on this train? Come on Karl, relax, there is no need to go all paranoid on me simply because you are a combat addict."

I hate the addict comment but I can't actually say she is wrong, every enemy I kill is an enemy that will not be a threat to the Empire, call it patriotism, loyalty, or even concern for our brothers in arms, just don't call it an addiction like combat is an illegal drug I have to buy in some shady night club.

As I felt relaxed, I picked up my rifle and aimed it to the door. "Next time knock, or so help me, I will shoot you dead, and there is no power in existence that will save you." The young man simply stood there shaking, and looking terrified. I could swear I smell a scent of urine coming from him.

"Sir, I was just going to tell you both that the arrival was going to be delayed for half an hour due to some trouble they are fixing with the rails. I am sorry, you are quite correct, I really should knock, didn't mean to interrupt anything between you two, now if you will excuse me."

As soon as he said that he took off running as if I was going to chase him down and kill him. Tanya finally stopped pretending that she was awake, "See, told you, you need to relax and stop thinking that this is a trap, a low number of passengers can happen when a nation is at war."

She looked at me and began to sit down with her hand touching her chin, "See what are you being paranoid caused? You scared that poor kid, and now he will go around saying that we were going at it like a pair of animals in heat, I can practically hear the rumor mill screaming that we are supposed to be in a relationship."

I seriously wanted to get back at her for that relationship comment. "Well, it wouldn't be much of a rumor since we really do have a relationship now don't we?" This made her looked like she was shocked one second, blushing the next and finally settled with this glaring look.

"What? It is not like I said anything that is not true? We grew up together now didn't we?" She finally began to laugh and I guess she never put too much thought into that. She finally sat down right next to me and she put body close so that she was resting against my side. I guess she finally decided to sleep.