The Shards of War: Balancing Power

Chapter 22

Matsu, still groggy from his impromptu nap, rubbed his eyes as he noticed Blaze and Exander in the room. Confusion crossed his face, and he questioned, "What are you two doing here?"

Calie giggled softly, her eyes filled with affection for the sleepy captain. Blaze chimed in, "We're here to discuss our upcoming matches, Captain. You seem to have worn yourself out, so we thought we'd let you rest a bit."

Matsu, now more awake, remembered their plans and smiled, "Ah, right. Matches. Sorry, I tend to doze off unexpectedly lately."

Exander chuckled, "No worries, Captain. We're used to your unpredictable napping schedule."

Blaze added with a teasing grin, "Besides, we found you in the capable hands of your lovely fiancées. Seems like they've got the situation under control."

Matsu blushed slightly, realizing he had fallen asleep on Marie's lap. He straightened up, trying to regain his composure, "Well, I appreciate the concern, but let's get down to business. What do we need to discuss about our matches?"

As they shifted the conversation to more practical matters, the warmth of the moment lingered, and the friends-turned-teammates prepared for the challenges and triumphs that awaited them in their upcoming endeavors.

Then Blaze and Exander suggested that Aria should play more matches with them so they could get to know her better and evaluate her abilities. Matsu nods and states that he was also thinking the same thing. He goes on to say that Aria has excellent skills and that judging from the way she played yesterday, she may have been in the military.

Matsu nodded in agreement with Blaze and Exander's suggestion, "You're right, playing more matches with Aria will help us understand her strengths and how she fits into the team dynamics."

Blaze added with enthusiasm, "And it's always fun to see how new teammates adapt to our playstyle."

Exander then questioned Matsu's claim about Aria's potential military background, "How can you be so sure she's former military? She seemed pretty young."

Matsu leaned back, considering his words carefully, "Well, Marina is a good example. She's also former military, a combat engineer, to be precise. People might not expect it given her kind and gentle demeanor, but appearances can be deceiving. I've learned not to judge a book by its cover."

Blaze chimed in, "You never know what someone's been through or what skills they bring to the table. It's part of what makes our team so diverse and strong."

Exander, still processing the revelation about Marina, nodded in agreement, "I guess you're right. We all have our stories."

As they continued their conversation, the team recognized the importance of getting to know each other on a deeper level, both on and off the battlefield. The mix of personalities and backgrounds only strengthened their bond, making them a formidable force in both gaming and life.

Then Exander raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the revelation. "Wait, how do you two know about Marina's military background?"

Calie chuckled, exchanging a knowing glance with Marie. "Marina actually told us herself. We've known her for quite some time, and she opened up to us about her past. She was a combat engineer in the Solstice Kingdom's military."

Marie nodded in agreement, adding, "Matsu also met her during one of his visits to the Solstice Kingdom. He encountered her while she was still actively serving in the military. It's a part of her life that not many people know about."

Matsu, reflecting on those encounters, chimed in, "Marina is a remarkable person, and her military background is just one aspect of her diverse skill set. She may seem gentle, but she's got a lot of strength and resilience."