Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 36 | Dangerous Liaisons

"Good morning, Commander," a Bulgarian Soldier greeted him in his northern accent as the Headmaster and the other elite soldiers saluted him. His own five soldiers fall into line behind him, with Eko trying her best to fit in with them and the way they are presented.

Sure, she stood dressed as they all were, black fitted suit, and she felt like an absolute boss in her outfit. She looked every part of a soldier. But, she felt like an imposter at this stage; surely, they could see she wasn't like them whatsoever.

"We need to get in touch with the survivors," Matthew's instructions began, "Cid mentioned that he would get into contact prior to our arrival to explain?"

"Cid had," the elderly Headmaster nodded kindly.

"We have them on our levels. Precisely four hundred are here. We are quite overrun. However, a carrier was coming tonight to take them to Sea-tac?"

"Yes, before nightfall. If you could lead my four soldiers here to them, they need to be processed."

Upon that command, Matthew flung his head over his shoulder to the four.

"Kurt, Abigail, Fae, CJ."

"Sir," they nodded in command, and without another instruction, the Bulgarian soldiers offered the way for the Isadorian soldiers to follow.

The eight of them immediately disappeared from sight, leaving Eko staring at Matthew and what she was meant to be doing.

"This way," he instructed Eko, allowing her to follow him as he took the heel of the Headmaster that offered them forward into the vicinity of his small Academy.

"I'll need your records from the intake."

"I figured you might want them. Claire has already pulled the report together for you to look through. They are in my office."

Stepping into the hallways of the Bulgarian Base, Eko watched the ancient building of sandstone and architectural archways of steel constructed around her. They pulled together a world of ceilings of glass and natural light that flooded her surroundings of the smaller school.

"An impressive Academy you have here," Eko began in awe, allowing the Headmaster to drop back on his pace and join the young woman in a conversation with himself.

"We are nearly as old as Isadora."

"Yes," she nodded, looking at how the place had been designed. It wasn't as architecturally sound as what Isadora had been; sure, the walls and the surroundings indicated that it had been around for a long time, and the Headmaster himself was a testament to that.

For Eko, there was a form of magic missing, a vibrancy of life that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps it was her slower pace vibe from this Academy, compared to the humming bustling Academy of Allegiant.

"You were the third built after Isadora."

"Yes, ma'am, we were," the Headmaster nodded to Eko, quite surprised at her knowledge, "we don't hold the numbers as some of the sister sites. But we do quite well considering."

"John," Matthew laughed, "I don't think she really cares," his tone was humorous.

"Hush boy, a lovely young lady is asking me about my Academy. You've had her presence all this morning, and now she's interested in where we are. I don't get this often."

"You don't get the company, in general. More like it."

Eko giggled, shaking her head at the Headmaster.

"By all means," she continued, "ignore the grumpy one here. He hasn't had his morning coffee yet."

John looked back to Matthew and chuckled.