General and I

NEW DAWN AT CAMP VALOUR

The blare of the morning trumpet shattered the soft cradle of dawn. It rolled across Camp Valour like thunder, pulling every cadet from their beds.

Leah stirred, her body instinctively tensing. For a moment, she forgot where she was the clean linen, the faint hum of the new air system, and the scent of detergent didn’t match the damp walls of their quarters. Then she blinked, realizing she wasn’t a recruit anymore. She was a cadet now.

Natasha’s muffled voice came from the other bunk. “Leah, it’s five. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?”

Leah groaned, throwing her blanket aside. “Because apparently, our idea of fun is serving our country.”

Natasha laughed, sitting up and stretching. “Yeah, sure. Serving with sore legs and empty stomachs.”

The new quarters were nothing like their previous ones. Each cadet now had a proper bed, a personal locker, and even a small shelf to place their personal items. Leah’s corner was simple a small photo of Maya smiling with her missing tooth, a folded prayer book, and a single fresh rose she’d plucked from their garden before leaving home.

The sound of running water came from the adjoining restroom as Natasha hummed a pop tune. Leah smiled faintly, tying her hair into a neat bun before stepping into her khaki uniform. The fabric was stiffer than usual, but it fit her perfectly, hugging her small frame.

When she was done dressing, she stood by the mirror, looking at herself for a long moment. There was something different in her eyes strength, maybe. Or quiet resolve. She wasn’t sure which.

“Ready?” Natasha asked, buttoning her shirt.

Leah nodded. “Let’s survive another day.”

Outside, the morning was brisk, the air tasting faintly of pine and dust. The field glowed silver with dew under the rising sun. Groups of cadets jogged into formation, their boots thudding rhythmically against the ground.

The sergeant’s whistle pierced the air. “Line up! Fall in!”

Leah and Natasha scrambled into position. The sergeant walked down the line, his eyes sweeping across the new cadets like a hawk assessing its prey.

“Welcome to your first day as official cadets,” he barked. “You’ve passed your initial training, but don’t think this will be any easier. From now on, you’ll operate like soldiers not recruits. You’ll learn strategy, endurance, and discipline. Fail to adapt, and you’ll be out before you can blink. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” the field thundered.

The sergeant nodded. “Good. Today’s assignment orientation and assessment. You’ll be reclassified into divisions: Strategy, Defense, and Field Coordination. Those selected under General Cole’s command will report directly to him for evaluation.”

At the mention of Damien, Leah’s chest tightened. She stared straight ahead, praying her name wouldn’t come up.

“Cadet Harper,” the sergeant called.

Leah froze. “Yes, sir!”

“Field Coordination Unit — General Cole.”

She felt Natasha’s elbow nudge her side. “Looks like fate’s playing favorites,” Natasha whispered.

Leah sighed. “Or just being cruel.”

The next hour was brutal. The cadets were made to run twenty laps around the field, followed by push-ups and squad relay tests. Sweat poured down Leah’s temples, her uniform sticking to her skin. Yet, something about the exhaustion felt different purposeful.

“Keep your pace!” the sergeant shouted.

Natasha puffed beside her. “Do you think generals ever sweat?”

Leah snorted softly between breaths. “Only when they’re yelling.”

Their laughter was short-lived as the familiar presence of Damien filled the space.

He walked across the field in a black combat shirt, sleeves rolled up, the crisp morning sun catching the silver insignia on his chest. His eyes were as sharp as ever, his expression unreadable.

Every conversation died the moment he stepped into view.

He didn’t speak for a moment just stood, surveying them like a commander who saw everything. Then, in that low, controlled voice of his, he said, “Cadets. Your title means nothing without discipline. You’ll earn it every single day. Understood?”

“Yes, General!”

His eyes moved across the ranks, and for the briefest moment, they landed on Leah. She looked away instantly, pretending to adjust her sleeve.

Zach stood not too far away, observing quietly with a clipboard. His smile was faint, but the curiosity in his gaze was unmistakable.

By midday, the cadets were dismissed for lunch. The canteen buzzed with laughter and chatter.

Trays clattered, spoons scraped plates, and the rich aroma of stew filled the air.

Natasha was midway through her food when she leaned toward Leah. “So, word around camp is that Ann’s family her really rich ,new gym equipment, computers, and some luxury supplies.”

Leah raised an eyebrow. “And let me guess, she’s using that to earn more attention?”

Then, lowering her voice, Natasha added, “And rumor has it, she made sure her quarters are conveniently close to the General’s.”

Leah froze mid-bite. “Of course, she did.”

“Don’t worry,” Natasha teased, “you’ve got something money can’t buy.”

Leah frowned. “And what’s that?”

“His attention.”

Leah nearly choked on her drink. “What,Natasha, stop!”

Natasha laughed. “You think I didn’t notice how he looked at you during drills?”

“Maybe he was wondering how long before I fainted.”

Natasha smirked. “Maybe. Or maybe not.”

Later that afternoon, the cadets were gathered at the outdoor strategy field, where wooden obstacles and maps stretched across a massive terrain. They were split into teams to complete navigation tasks and endurance runs.

Leah was assigned as deputy squad leader, much to her shock and annoyance of others.

“You’ll coordinate movement and mark safe zones,” the instructor said.

Leah nodded, though her hands trembled slightly. She’d never been much of a leader. But she followed instructions carefully, her calm nature helping her team stay organized.

By the end of the exercise, her squad came second, right after Zach’s.

“You did well,” Zach said afterward, approaching her as they left the field. He had a relaxed smile, his tone lighter than usual. “You have good instincts.”

Leah shrugged modestly. “Maybe I just got lucky.”

“Luck doesn’t draw clean lines on a map,” he said. “Discipline does.”

Natasha, standing nearby, whispered under her breath, “And flirtation, apparently.”

Zach laughed, catching the remark. “Don’t worry, Cadet Rivers. My interest here is purely professional.”

“Sure, sir,” Natasha said, saluting dramatically.

Leah bit back a smile.

Evening settled slowly over the camp. Golden light turned into soft amber as the cadets returned to their quarters. The halls were quieter now, laughter replaced by the soft hum of phone conversations.

Phones finally permitted again.

Leah sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through messages.

Jenah: How’s the first day back?

Leah: Exhausting. But different. Feels… organized.

Jenah: Organized as in boring?

Leah: Organized as in peaceful. Kind of.

Jenah: And the General?

Leah: Jenah 😑

Jenah: Just checking! Maya says she misses you.

Leah smiled, typing back a quick heart emoji before setting the phone down. She leaned against the bedpost, staring out the window.

Across the distance, the glow from Damien’s office window flickered faintly. She couldn’t see him, but she knew he was there.

Somewhere inside that same building, Damien was seated at his desk, reading through cadet reports. His pen tapped lightly against the paper as his eyes paused over a familiar name. Leah Harper.

He shouldn’t be thinking about her. Yet, he was. The memory of her quiet determination the way she pushed through exhaustion had burned itself into his thoughts.

He exhaled slowly, shutting the file. His reflection in the glass stared back composed, collected, but his mind anything but.

Outside, the camp lights dimmed one by one, leaving the stars to reclaim the sky.

And beneath that vast stretch of darkness, two hearts one hardened by command, one softened by compassion beat quietly, unknowingly in rhythm.