Kady's Journey -Freesia-

Chapter 18: The Tower

"Hey, Mariya."

The perky one of the two Scanian twins looked at me as I walked behind her on our way to the airport check-in on the day of our departure from the Dukedom.

She slowed down so she is walking side by side now with me, "Yes, Kady?"

"What's with Lexei and Galion? They have been grinning from ear to ear since we arrived here," I said in a hushed voice as she pretended to look at my luggage before glancing quickly at the two behind us.

"Apparently the coming wargame back at the academy is their final confrontation to settle once and for all who is the better strategist between them," she said before heaving a sigh, "Personally, I don't think there's anything to prove for them at all. They are already the best in their own respective countries. What's the point, right?"

I nodded and looked at Platti who heard our conversation and walked closer to my left, "Aside from Silva and Trevor, all of us Royals are a bit unsettled by Galion lately. He is really fixated on Lexei lately it is really getting disturbing."

"More than usual, Platti?" Mariya asked curiously as the Kalalitan nodded quickly.

"Yes. I mean it is common knowledge for us in A-0 that those two are always at odds at just about anything but I don't really get why Lexei has to rub his superiority and better social standing to Galion all the time?"

Mariya shook her head in confusion, "Sorry girl, but hold on, rub, you say? Please, I've rubbed myself among you all mostly in the wrong way and I definitely know if someone has beef on others because I and my sister have to deal with those kinds of people on a daily basis in the academy media club. I'm not saying this because I am an Imperial but Lexei is the last person who will do it knowingly or just to brag his abilities. If you are going to ask me, what I think it is, it's a serious case of hero worship gone horribly wrong and dysfunctional."

"Well, now that you mentioned that, I am inclined to believe what you say. I guess I am taking his actions as competitive but when I look at his eyes, I think he just wants Galion to notice him, huh?" Platti asked and Mariya who nodded, "Galion is quite insensitive and a bit dense so I guess he is taking his actions at a face value."

I chuckled after I heard their words as I let the two help me lift my luggage that is bursting at the seams because of all the things I have bought, "Galion once told me that he thinks Lexei wanted to bring him down. Personally, I think Lexei just wanted Galion to acknowledge him."

"Truly? Well, if that's what he said then I'm sold to Mariya's theory," Platti said as she looked around us to make sure no one is near enough listening to us gossiping, "But I honestly don't think Galion will do that. The reason why is he so fixated to bring Lexei to heel is that he wanted to prove his superiority to the boy who represented everything he hated and wanted in his life."

Mariya looked really sad as she glanced at Lexei who is chatting with Denal animatedly, "Don't tell this to others but Lexei's childhood is not a happy one. I know this may sound unbelievable judging by his demeanor now but he and his mother or rather, his tsardom is seen as the least of all the Empire."

"That's what I really found laughable during my stay at the Yekaterin Tsardom, Platti. Imagine marginalizing the very people who gave you all the things and knowledge that make your life easy? That's what exactly the Scanians are doing," I said to the Kalalitan who looked shocked by what she heard and looked at Mariya who nodded in agreement.

"Really? Goodness, even if we mostly have the only animosity against the Empire, we can certainly respect the tenacity of the Tsarina of Yekaterin. But I guess the reason why we like about Lexei's mother is the very reason why they are looked down upon in Scania, right?"

"Damn right, girl. You two know that Tatyana and I have two mothers, while our existence is tolerated at the Empire as a whole, it's the Yekaterin dukedom who truly only accepted and respected us for who our family is. Not to mention ours is the very first tsardom who received prototypes for our media usage from Lexei's territory," she then lowered down her voice, "When we were kids, Lexei is often being bullied by other children of nobilities of the Empire for his rather advanced intelligence whenever we have gatherings. They said he is not manly enough, soft-spoken, and frail to even be a Tsar. They even beat him up to prove their point. We usually see him often during important occasions but because of those incidents, he came less and less with his mother until he stopped coming at all. I think we were nine or ten when we last saw him. He frankly looked like a runt back then, no kidding but just imagine our surprise when we saw him again when we're on our way to Maharlika."

Platti and I nodded as we glanced again to Lexei who is now alone in his seat again and looking rather pensive, "You didn't expect him to be a complete knockout, huh?"

"You said it. Just look how handsome he is. I never got tired of looking at him and Galion. Actually I think he and Galion look so good together, don't you two agree?" Mariya asked which we immediately agreed to.

"Agreed. But sadly, the only moment they are together is when they are fighting each other," Platti said sadly that made me remind myself not to tell more than what I supposed to, "Now that I heard Lexei's background, I think Galion is really the person he wanted to be, huh? Manly, proud, confident, and impressive looking. Everything he was not and was expected of him. Sad, really."

I just nodded in agreement as Lexei noticed us staring at him before smiling and waving at our direction cordially.

I'm sorry Galion and Lexei. I just can't afford to let anyone of you win over the other, not on my watch. It will spell the end for everything that I hoped for the two of you. If I can delay your confrontation just a bit longer then I will do everything I can.

Yes, even the impossible.

-0-

"Explain why you two are here?" I asked Yuro and Yugo when the two appeared suddenly in front of me just minutes before I meet with the 1st Heavy Artillery Battalion that I will be leading for the coming wargame, "Weren't you supposed to be at Daryl's side as members of House Freedel?"

They looked at each other and sighed, "Yosef told you that much, huh?"

"Yes and that brings me back to my question, why are you two here?" I asked irritably as I already have a problem calming my nerves.

"Daryl said that he is a mere figurehead in the grand scheme of things," Yugo said simply.

Yuro nodded and smiled at me sweetly, "Your survival is of utmost importance to the war effort and we are off better defending you than him."

I looked at the twins and shook my head in disbelief. Ever since I returned from the Dukedom I have been trying my best to minimize my reliance on them as much as I can.

"We know you are avoiding us like plague, Lady Kady," Yuro said after a minute or so of silence between us, "We don't know what crap our brother told you but let me just remind you that no matter what you do, we will be right at your heels."

His brother nodded and bowed his head, "Even if for some stupid reason Daryl became the Grand Duke, we will still stay with you. Let me just say that now to make things clear between us, my Lady."

"You do know that what you said is borderline treasonous, right?" I asked unbelievably at the two who took a step closer and looked up to me as with utmost loyalty, "That's a dereliction of duty at the very least."

"Sue us, we already told Daryl earlier that we are not serving him ever," Yugo said as his brother laughed at my shocked reaction.

"Yep. He said he was not expecting us to anyways. Our brother will continue his duty to him once the Grand Duke abdicated the throne," Yuro said smoothly that made me just sigh in disbelief.

"I still don't know why you two are acting like this to me. I am just a random commoner girl from the streets of Maharlika who happened to get lucky and land a spot in this school," I said exasperatedly as I looked at them one at a time, "Am I random plaything for you two or something?"

They honestly looked offended by what I said, "You think we just decided to play with you and follow you around all the time so much we are called Kady's Hounds?" Yugo asked me directly as his Yuro spoke after him.

"Not that we mind in the slightest but really, you really do think that we are doing all of this and more just because we wanted to play with you? If we want to play with a girl, we would've done it a long time ago long before we met you with so many of them throwing themselves at us."

"Then why?"

"Because we promised..."

I looked at Yuro who raised his hands signifying he won't speak any further.

Yugo did the same and nodded at me, "Yes, because we promised. Someday you will know why. But for now, that's all you need to know."

"Two months from now will be the graduation day," I said quietly as I closed the folder that I am reading and standing up, "You two will graduate and finally leave this academy and so am I. I decided that since the rest of my classmates are just staying for a year then I don't see any reason to stay here any further. I will be going away, away from all of these. I will be going alone."

To my surprise, they nodded at the same time as if they know already what I have decided upon myself, "Of course you will and we understand and respect that, Lady Kady," Yuro said honestly.

"But mark these words, my Lady. Someday, you will reach out your hands to us and we will be there to take it, you can count on that come what may" Yugo promised before pointing the door, "But enough about us, you have a battalion to meet. We have kept you long enough for ourselves, forgive us, Lady Kady."

I just laughed and smiled at the two while shaking my head, "You two still doesn't make any sense at all but you are right. I want to meet the people I will be leading and apologize in advance. Come, walk with me. It just doesn't feel quite right to not have you two by my side, I must confess."

The two smiled so pure at me that it almost broke my heart when I think about having to leave them when the time comes.

It really is both happiness and wonder when you came to understand another.

-0-

"I am Kady Groves a commoner, First Year from A-0 Class and Major of the 1st Heavy Artillery Battalion of the Maharlikan-Riksenitian Alliance and I would like to apologize in advance," I bowed in front of hundreds of students standing in front of me at one of the dozens of briefing rooms of the academy reserved for my use, "If there is anyone here who thinks that they can lead better than me then, by all means, stand up now and I would be more than happy to transfer the responsibilities given to me by Daryl."

I looked around the combination of first and second years looking at me expectantly and waited for a minute or so before heaving a sigh, "No one, huh? Oh well."

They all laughed at my predicament as I opened the folder that I am holding and checked the figures written, "Our battalion is composed of six hundred Maharikans and two hundred Riksentians. All of you are students who excel at artillery hardware and our inventory of military pieces of equipment is more than enough for us. I will divide our battalion into two batteries, one battery for bombardment and the other for anti-air support. I need two people who will lead their respective batteries. Any volunteers?"

"We'll take command, Lady Kady."

I looked behind me and saw Yuro and Yugo stepping forward smiling, "Our family has been one of the proponents of the Dukedom's artillery superiority for more than a century and also the one who lobbied to transfer military pieces of equipment to Maharlika. We know what we will be doing."

I nodded at Yuro's words and chuckled, "Maybe you two know more than what I will ever will. Anyways, now that that is settled, I want to tell you this, I am not promising you all victory. No, far from it but I am offering a chance to do something nigh-impossible. Are you with me?"

To my surprise, they all stood up and saluted at the same time, "FOR THE ALLIANCE!"

"Excellent! Yuro and Yugo will give you now the folder containing our course of action," I waited for a while until the twins distributed the papers to everyone in the room before continuing, "As you can see, we will be the shield of the Alliance. We will use our battalion to provide absolute defense against land and air attacks."

"You weren't kidding when you said impossible."

"Wow, this is ambitious!"

"Unbelievable."

"Truly outrageous, really!"

"Scratch that, this is insane!"

"Getting cold feet, are we?" I asked mockingly and the students all shook their heads and grinned in my direction, "Oh, I see I finally managed to pique your interest. Please do take note that we are not just fighting to survive. There’s a lot of people who will be watching us so let’s not give them the mocking rights more than what they have ready for us, hmm?”

They all nodded and gave me their full and undivided attention, “As long as we pull this one of, it doesn’t matter if we lose. We will show them that we will not just let them steamroll our troops. We will have to make sure that our defense will be absolute either by land or air. There are only two important things that we should never forget, we need to perfect our timing and gain the trust of our comrades. Fire too early and we will shoot our allies. Shoot too late and our enemy will shoot at them. We must make sure that our timing is impeccable all of the time. There is no room for mistakes or everything will just fall apart. Once I cascaded this battle plan to other battalions, their first question will be a matter of trust in our ability. Let’s not make them worry by practicing for the next six days before the wargame. I want you all back here tomorrow at eight in the morning. That is all, dismissed!”

I saluted snappily at them as they returned it with enthusiasm before leaving me and the twins alone in the room.

“You’re a natural-born leader, my Lady,” Yugo said to me as I leaned on the desk behind me and folded my arms, “At first they are unsure but by the end of your briefing they left with a smile and respect on their faces.”

“Indeed, Lady Kady. You are something else entirely,” Yuro said as he bowed a little before handing me my trusty shoulder bag.

I raised my hands and shook their head, “Enough flattery or my head will explode from all the patronizing words you are throwing at me. To tell you all the truth, I am shaking deep inside because that is the first time I’ve ever talked to that many people. I was just thankful I didn’t pass out.”

“If that is your first time then you are more unbelievable, my Lady,” Yugo said awestruck as I handed him a folder.

“If I am unbelievable right now then I hope I can, even more, be by tomorrow,” I said as I prepare to leave, “Give that to all the Majors of the Alliance. Tell them that we will be pushing through our exercise tomorrow.”

Yuro raised his eyebrows when he saw the heading of the report, “Dance with Pop Idol Sensation Belle Style? No way, my Lady!”

“Yes, way.”

I left the two while grinning ear to ear.

If I am already mad trying to do something impossible then by tomorrow I will drive that point thoroughly…

-0-

“Ok, everyone! Dance as if your lives depend on it! Move it!”

I shouted at my battalion using my megaphone who are like me, wearing their P.E uniforms under the heat of the blazing sun at one of the many training grounds of the academy.

With the two twins in front of them all, they are dancing and swaying their hips to the tune of Belle’s song that is a clever combination of tango moves and pop melody.

“Rejection! I’m tired of this rectangle, got dizzy dancing in tango!” I sang loudly on top of my tongue as I danced with them and carefully minding my steps.

“WE’RE FALLING APART AGAIN AND AGAIN!” they all sang in unison as we continue to spin around.

“No way! We’ve got to fly away!”

“FLY AWAY!”

“We’ve got to fly away!”

“FLY AWAY!”

We all took a step forward and continued marching before stopping exactly at the same time and bowing, “Big finish!”

They all saluted and roared in relief when I raised my right hand in peace sign.

“Ok, fifteen minutes break and we will start again from the top to make sure it is not a fluke,” I said as they all ran away in different directions and leaving me and the twins alone.

I looked at Yugo and Yuro who are very sweaty and exhausted looking, “Sorry you two but I hope you understand why we need to do this.”

“We do, my Lady. But it doesn’t change the fact that aside from tiring, it is absolutely embarrassing!” Yugo exclaimed as he looked at several students from other nations giggling at our direction.

“True. We’ve been doing this for two days straight. I’ve heard other students claiming they are even dreaming about dancing,” Yuro said while shaking his head in disbelief, “Lady Kady, I do sure hope this one works. The humiliation we already endured is already too much.”

I tapped their shoulders, “Just hang in there. We still have two songs to practice.”

They both groaned at the same time that made them cuter than ever. I pinched their cheeks and looked at the aide of Belle who saluted in front of me, “Yes?”

“Major de Marillac wants to talk to you as soon as possible,” he said and I nodded quickly.

“Very well, lead the way,” I looked at the twins and left an order, “If I don’t return within fifteen minutes, proceed the practice without me.”

They saluted to me before I followed the boy leading me back to the school building, “I saw the practice, Major Groves and I must say you’ve got the voice and moves to break into the show business. Any plans?”

“Oh please, I feel like a frog croaking hoarsely while flailing about,” I said honestly before staring at the aide of my friend closely, “Wait, why do you look familiar?”

He smiled sweetly showing his deep dimples and a perfect set of white teeth, “Really?”

“Goodness. You’re Krier Rocco?!” I exclaimed as I finally recognized his face that I always see back when I was working at a grocery chain store where he is their brand ambassador.

“Yes, Major Groves. One and the same. Are you a fan?” he joked before shaking his head, “Just a jest. I doubt someone as scholarly like you will pay attention to little old me.”

I didn’t answer as I fished out a small notebook from my pocket and a pen from behind my ear and handed it to him, “Are you kidding me? I worked before at Eleven-Eleven and I always carry your life-size portrait from the storage room to the entrance every day. You also visited once the store where I worked once. Sadly I was busy restocking so I just caught a glimpse. Talk about lucky seeing you here, please give me your autograph.”

“Okay? Wow, the very famous scholar of the academy asking for my autograph? I will be honored. Though I think I should be asking yours instead if you ask me, here!” he handed back my notebook.

I smiled happily as we chatted for a bit before arriving at the briefing room where Belle’s battalion is currently having their meeting.

The moment we entered the room, more than four hundred pairs of eyes were focused on me as I head to where Belle is standing, “You need me, Belle?”

“Oh yes, Kady. Actually, before I get into details, my battalion has a message for you, Krier if you please?”

I looked at her aide who stood in front of the 2nd Battalion and smiled gratefully, “On behalf of all of us here, we would like to express our sincerest thanks for what you did. You gave us a purpose and an important role in an otherwise unwelcoming situation. We promise we will do our utmost best to support the Alliance, Major Groves.”

They all saluted snappily before clapping their hands and cheering for me loudly.

I looked at Belle who is beaming at me, “I don’t understand…”

“You know full well that half of my battalion consists of child stars and media personalities who obviously have zero aptitudes when it comes to combat or other military activities. By doing what you did, you gave them a sense of belongingness and responsibility. Not to mention a chance to contribute to the war effort while doing what they are born to do. To perform with all of their hearts. The other half can focus on their scouting tasks without being worried about their teammates. It’s a win-win no matter where I look at it.”

When I finally understood what she meant I faced the students again and bowed my head, “I am expecting you all to provide the needed morale boost when facing the undefeatable armies of the Kingdom and Empire. We will look up to you all to provide valuable information on where and when to attack. We might get defeated but at least we can do it in style.”

They all laughed at my words before shouting their thanks again.

“Well, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let me tell you the real reason why I called you here, Kady,” Belle said seriously as I faced her again, “As expected, the Kingdom and Empire are treating us as if we don’t exist which is all well and good but spies are snooping around and asking too many questions. What do you propose we should do?”

I heaved a sigh and close my eyes as I try to think of something and then it hit me, “If they ask them too many questions then we will regale them with too many answers as well. I’m sure that having worked in the media and sports industry, you all have your fair share of intrigues and gossips.”

I faced the 2nd Battalion and grinned meaningfully at them, “You know what to do.”

They also grinned at me in return before looking at each other knowingly.

“Time for payback.”

“I was always at the receiving end of it, before…”

“Well, not anymore.”

“Time to literally put our money where our mouths are, folks.”

“This will be fun.”

“Well, I’m not a good actor if I can’t pull this simple thing off.”

“Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!”

“Anything else, Belle?”

“Well, nothing except for the fact that you really used my songs for your plans. I don’t know if I should be honored or embarrassed! Really, Kady?!”

I just laughed out loud and winked at my close friend, “Why not both?”

She playfully pulled my hair as I continued laughing with her battalion.

-0-

“I don’t know if you are preparing for the wargame or for a dances competition, Kady,” Kyrus said while I am walking beside him and Trevor on our way to Mr. Andrade’s office, “My soldiers reported to me that you have prepared at least three dances that you drilled into not just your battalion’s head but also for the rest of the Alliance forces.”

I chuckled as Trevor looked at me curiously as if trying to decipher my thoughts, “I told them that the least we can do is dance our way to defeat rather than flailing around and screaming.”

“Nice one, Kady but I don’t buy it,” the Crown Prince of Kalalit said curtly, “You want me to believe that you wasted six days just to teach the Alliance forces to dance? Really.”

I shrugged my shoulders and nodded, “That’s exactly what we did.”

“And you expect us to believe that?” Kyrus asked as I shook my head at him.

“Believe what you will. You two asked what I did and I told you exactly what you and your spies have seen, we danced the days away. Rather than overthinking the things that will happen, I decided that practicing dancing is a good way to chase the doubts and anticipation away. No matter how many times you asked, I will say the same thing now, let’s not make our adviser wait any longer, shall we?”

They both nodded and I knocked at Mr. Andrade’s office before opening the door.

The office is very homey and welcoming. There are a lot of bookshelves that lined the walls and a handsome desk made of narra can be seen at the center of the room with our adviser sitting behind it in a comfortable looking leather chair.

“Ah, finally, you three are here,” Mr Andrade exclaimed as pointed the couch in front of his desk, “Please do take a seat.”

We thanked him for the offer and proceed to sit down comfortably with me at the center.

“I would like to apologize first to Kady here,” the kindly old man said apologetically to me before bowing his head a little, “I know you are doing your last-minute preparations but Daryl is proving to be a stubborn one. He refused to come over and talk because he is very busy with some other things and he already knows the machine to be used during the wargame tomorrow.”

Of course, he is.

He did it deliberately so that I would be the one who will hear firsthand what our adviser will say and to further throw the Empire and Kingdom off our tracks.

The more erratic our forces’ behavior is, the better.

“No worries, Mr Andrade. I am very interested to see for myself the thingie that we will use!” I faked an excited voice that made Trevor laugh.

“Well, the “thingie” is this, Kady,” our adviser showed me a small plastic container and handing it over to me.

I carefully opened it and saw a pair of contact lenses floating on the liquid inside, “Contact lenses? This is virtual reality equipment?”

“Yes. You will put that into your eyes, drink the specially prepared sleeping pills and off to the virtual world you go,” our adviser explained as simple as possible, “Rest assured it is a technology tested and improved for decades combining the scientific breakthroughs of the four nations. Completely safe and will be administered by qualified psychologists and psychiatrists tomorrow morning.”

I furrowed my brow and inclined my head curiously, “What are the side effects?”

“Drowsiness, lightheadedness and mild disorientation after waking up,” Mr Andrade said as he looked at Kyrus and Trevor, “Your parents will be watching tomorrow as well as the ruling nobilities of your respective countries. While there are no limitations or rules prohibiting you to do things that will help you secure victory, please be reminded that your actions will reflect directly to your nations.”

Trevor laughed and looked at Kyrus, “No problems with me, Mr Andrade. After all, the Kingdom is known for its honorable battle dogmas. No cheap party tricks or smoke and mirrors required. I can’t say the same for the Empire though.”

“You can continue spouting nonsense about honor and all that, Trevor but as long as we secure victory, it doesn’t matter how. In case you are forgetting, honor is not the gauge for victory in the end,” Kyrus snapped back which made the Royal Crown Prince laugh.

“So we can expect underhanded tactics from Your Highness and the son of the Witch of Yekaterin then?” he asked mockingly before looking at me fondly, “Don’t worry Kady, I assure you that the Kalalit will fight fairly. I doubt you can hear something like that from the Imperials.”

Kyrus grunted and looked at me warily, “You’re not fooling anyone, Kady. I bet even the Royal here will agree that Daryl is not the one pulling the strings. I don’t have an idea what in Gearth are you planning but please don’t get your hopes up, I made sure Lexei prepared for anything that you will throw at us.”