The White Lily

Chapter 3

I stood with the new recruits in the middle of the training field. It was exactly out of my old military textbooks from when I was younger. A large obstacle course ran through most of the field, each obstacle testing a different skill or strength, designed to push every person to their limits. I was allowed to keep my knives for it as well, which made the recruits around me nervous.

I stood with my arms crossed over my chest and sighed. I noticed the rest of the boys standing off to the side, all silently watching me. There were other soldiers around as well, all watching the disaster about to unfold. I already knew there would be pukers and criers just by looking at some of the recruits. They were not built for discipline and strength.

One after the other, their names were called and they took off. Soon the whole field was full of recruits running around, attempting to look cool and strong on the course.

Roman called my name and I started walking to the first obstacle. I stared at it for a moment and then looked back at him. He wasn't paying attention to me.

I took off running at the first obstacle and easily completed it. I continued through the rest of the course with ease, hurdling over bars and climbing rock walls without the harness. I swiftly jumped over the mud portion and continued past the recruits as they gawked at me. I could hear the rest of my team shouting and cheering me on. I had never felt this way before. Pride? Sure, I have felt pride before, especially after my kills. But this felt different.

I landed on my feet after jumping over a wall and glared at Roman, who stood there with his tablet, his face expressionless. "Did I do good enough for you, little sobaka?"

His eyebrows raised slightly and he pointed at some targets. "Show me your knife skills, printsessa."

I rolled my eyes in disgust at him. I fucking hated that nickname. I walked up to the line and faced the targets. Other recruits were shooting small guns at the targets.

I threw my knives with an almost deadly precision. He already knew how well I could throw, but he was a dick. You are what you eat, I said to myself, laughing. I looked back and saw Roman, of course, not watching. I wanted him to see that I was a force to be reckoned with. I tapped the shoulder of the young recruit next to me. "Do me a favor, sobaka."

The recruit was startled when I touched him. "Uh...sure."

I whispered in his ear what I wanted him to do for me. He shivered when my breath touched his face. I smiled. Still got it.

The recruit lined up his gun and I walked to the side of the range. I gave him a thumbs up as everyone looked to see what I was up to.

He shot his gun and with a deep breath, time seemed to slow down in my mind. I threw my knife and it twirled in slow motion until it knocked the bullet out of its trajectory. The blade impaled in the farthest wall, the bullet clattering to the ground beneath it.

The world seemed to take a deep breath in as everyone realized that I had just stopped a bullet mid air with a knife. Roman was watching, actually staring at me. I walked up to him, smiling. "Good enough for you, little sobaka?"

He glared at me. "That was dangerous, Shade."

"Danger is my middle name, prizrak sobaka. Don't lecture me." I began walking away. "Don't bother telling me my score either. I truly don't care for such things."

**********

I was in my room when a paper slid under my door. I walked over and picked it up. My assessment scores. I opened the envelope.

Pass.

I smiled. "Of course I did."

A small bell rang, signaling time for lunch at the mess. I sighed and walked out of my room, tossing my paper on the desk. When I closed my door, I realized the hallway was once again filled with soldiers. This time, they all looked at me, whispering as they walked past. No doubt spreading rumors.