At that moment, Luca forced down a bite of his apple and added, a slight unease flickering in his eyes:

  “Yeah. He was treating the wounded.”

  “So what about the general? You came back with him, but why’d he bring you along?” Junya asked curiously.

  “The medic saved his life, and we helped. As a reward, he pulled us out of the war. Even gave us some money,” said Luca, smiling.

  Then he lifted his chin with pride and added:

  “A whole sack of gold, man! I don’t need to work for the next two seasons!”

  They spent the rest of the day up there, eating dinner and chatting until sunset.

  But eventually, a servant approached from the distance.

  “Karim and Luca, General Jonathan wishes to see you,” he said in a formal tone.

  The two exchanged a glance and began following the servant.

  Karim had only one thought in his mind: “Is the General going to threaten us into silence?”

  As far as he was concerned, the General had already handed them a bribe in the form of that sack of gold.

  Was there really a need for more threats?

  And yet, Karim couldn’t shake the possibility.

  ***

  The building where the generals stayed was far more magnificent and exotic in design compared to the quarters of the students and instructors.

  While most parts of the Academy lacked stone pavements, the entrance to this area was completely lined with neatly laid stones.

  Each house had a plaque by its entrance bearing the owner's surname, making it clear who lived where.

  General Jonathan’s home was situated in one of the district’s most distinguished corners.

  It had a small garden enclosed by iron railings, and to the left of the entrance stood a modest peach tree that immediately drew the eye.

  As they stepped inside, the scent of oak filled the air. Karim and Luca each took a seat and waited for the general to arrive.

  A dimly lit fireplace added warmth to the room—but also lent it a heavy, brooding atmosphere.

  One of the most striking details, however, was the two massive suits of armor standing by the hearth, clad in metal.

  Luca, curious, stood up and walked over to examine them more closely.

  Karim, on the other hand, was fixated on something entirely different.

  The paintings on the walls…

  They depicted the general’s family—but the backgrounds looked nothing like Earth.

  In most of the portraits, the same family members were positioned identically. Yet the scenes behind them were distinctly otherworldly.

  In one painting, colossal trees towered upward while unfamiliar planets floated suspended in the sky.

  In another painting, endless mountain ranges stretched across the canvas, broken only by plains covered in straw.

  Karim’s eyes drifted upward, toward the space just above the fireplace—and a chill ran down his spine.

  What stood there... was a massive skull.

  It was impossible to tell what kind of creature it had belonged to, but it was far larger than any human.

  Just then, General Jonathan entered the room.

  “Sit down, boys. Please,” he said, his voice deep and commanding.

  Karim and Luca, already seated, straightened their postures and focused intently on the General.

  Jonathan walked slowly around the room. He paused beside the fireplace and ran his hand across the top of the giant skull.

  Karim wasn’t sure whether the gesture was deliberate or unconscious.

  The General spoke again:

  “There’s a reason I called you here.”

  A brief silence settled over the room. The fireplace crackled softly, yet the air was growing heavier by the second.

  While Luca continued glancing at the paintings along the wall, Karim made sure not to break eye contact with the General.

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  “I saw your efforts during the war. Despite your young age, you were disciplined and committed. That’s why I have an offer for you.”

  The General walked over to the seat directly across from Karim and Luca, sat down slowly, and fixed his gaze on them.

  “Sit down, boys. Please,” he repeated, then quickly turned and headed toward the kitchen.

  The sounds of drawers opening and closing from the kitchen made it clear he was searching for something in a hurry.

  Karim and Luca exchanged a quick glance. The General returned from the kitchen moments later and sat back down in front of them.

  “Alright. I already know you won’t say anything to anyone. But I have a better offer for you.”

  Jonathan paused, letting his eyes roam over both Karim and Luca.

  “I can bring you under my wing. When I spoke with your instructors, I learned that you two have been side by side ever since you arrived at the Academy. I wouldn’t want to break up that friendship.”

  Luca raised an eyebrow.

  “What do you mean by ‘under your wing’?”

  The General leaned forward slightly in his chair.

  “I’ll train you myself. Then, you’ll serve as my personal guards.”

  Karim crossed his arms thoughtfully.

  “What kind of training are we talking about? We’re already studying and doing missions at the same time.”

  The General gave a faint smile.

  “Forget everything about the Academy’s training. I’ll offer you something far more exclusive. And even if you continue living here, should you ever step down from being a guard, you’ll be qualified to work here as instructors.”

  Karim locked eyes with the General.

  “So, we’d have the right to resign whenever we want and we’d be trained well enough to become instructors? Is that what you’re saying?”

  The General nodded without hesitation.

  “Yes. But the only condition is that you complete every part of the training flawlessly. No mistakes.”

  Watching Karim and Luca glance at each other, the General added with a relaxed tone:

  “Apologies for making such an offer so casually. You can decide now if you'd like, or take until the weekend to think it over.”

  Just as Luca opened his mouth to speak, Karim cut in quickly:

  “It's best we decide by the weekend, sir.”

  Then he calmly stood up and walked out of the house.

  Luca, baffled, rushed after him.

  “What? Why the hell did you say the weekend? We could’ve just agreed right there and lived like kings!”

  Karim stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and rubbed his face.

  “Calm down, Luca. Do you really think we’ll be allowed to resign whenever we want, and somehow be trained enough to become instructors too? I’m asking you—if that kind of freedom actually existed, why hasn’t he taken on any guards until now? Think about it for a second.”

  “What do you mean?” Luca asked, frowning.

  Karim squinted, trying to piece his thoughts together.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little weird? First he gives us gold, and now he wants to keep us this close?”

  Luca took a deep breath, threw his hands up, and said, “Man, I think you’re just being paranoid.”

  “If the General wanted to do something to us, he already would’ve. Why the hell would he give us gold first if he planned to kill us? He could’ve just slit our throats in our sleep while we rested on the road.”

  Karim paused at Luca’s words—but his doubts didn’t go away.

  He took a deep breath. “I don’t know. Let’s just wait a bit. See if he tries to pressure us. If he does, then we’ll know for sure.”

  Luca gave a small nod in response to Karim’s cautious resolve. Then the two of them quietly began walking back toward the Academy.

  ***

  Over the course of the week, Karim and Luca watched carefully, trying to detect if the General would apply any pressure—or if they were being followed.

  But the days passed... and nothing happened.

  No threats. No shadows. It was as if none of it had ever happened at all.

  By the final day of the weekend, Karim and Luca were once again sitting on the hill, just like always.

  “So... what do we do?” Luca asked.

  Karim thought for a moment, then stared off into the distance.

  “We should go talk to the General. Get the full picture. Then we’ll decide.”

  Luca nodded, and the two of them headed straight to the General’s house.

  When they reached the door, Karim knocked.

  But the person who opened it… was someone they never expected.

  The girl they had never managed to learn the name of during their time at the Academy—the one who always acted like she was someone important…

  She rolled her eyes and asked with a condescending look:

  “What are you doing here?”

  Luca crossed his arms, clearly irritated:

  “The real question is, what are you doing here? We came to speak with the General.”

  But her reply left them momentarily stunned:

  “What would you even talk to my father about?”

  Karim and Luca exchanged a quick glance.

  “Your father?”

  Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside. The door opened a bit wider, and General Jonathan’s calm voice came from within:

  “Come in, boys. Step inside.”

  The girl stepped back, clearly shocked by her father’s words.

  As Luca walked past her, he stuck his tongue out and flashed a smug grin.

  The two of them took their seats by the fireplace, and General Jonathan sat across from them.

  “So, what’s your decision?” he asked, his tone firm and authoritative as always.

  Karim began speaking, a bit hesitantly:

  “First of all, could you tell us more about the training? We still don’t fully understand what we’d be doing or what kind of training we’d go through if we accepted. Also… have you ever had personal guards before?”

  As he rattled off his questions, Luca nudged Karim’s foot with his own and stepped in with a tense smile:

  “Sir, what exactly would our duties be?”

  The General leaned back slightly, then gestured toward his daughter as he spoke:

  “My daughter will accompany you throughout your training. After that, unless you resign, you’ll protect her first—and me second—for the rest of your lives.”

  At those words, the girl turned to her father and scoffed:

  “They’re going to protect me? They don’t even know where the hell they are!”

  The General furrowed his brow and turned to her, his voice slow and commanding:

  “Emily, those same boys who ‘don’t know where they are’ brought me back to life. So be respectful to our guests.”

  Emily fell silent under her father’s words, while Karim and Luca exchanged a glance.

  “Go to your room,” Jonathan said to her—his tone just as firm as ever.

  Grumbling, Emily stomped off toward her room and slammed the door behind her.

  Watching her leave, Jonathan leaned forward in his seat.

  Locking eyes with Karim, he said:

  “Listen, Karim. If you think I’d do something to you because of what happened…”

  He paused for a moment, then stood up.

  His gaze locked onto the massive skull above the fireplace—then turned back to Karim.

  “…I already would have.”

  The only sound in the room was the crackling of the fire.

  Jonathan took a deep breath and looked down at the floor as he continued:

  “You can’t even begin to imagine how humiliating and shameful what I did in the army was for me. And as much as I hate myself for that decision… I have a daughter. And I have a wife.

  I don’t want them living in fear and doubt anymore.”

  He sat back down, letting his eyes drift between Karim and Luca.

  “I’ll be the one training you. Your instructors will only give you the basics—just enough to get by. But the real training will be under my command.

  And once you’re ready… you’ll leave this place with me.”

  His voice now carried a finality heavier than before.

  The silence in the room was broken by Karim:

  “And what if we refuse?”

  General Jonathan gave a faint smile and replied in a calm voice:

  “That’s up to you.”