Scales of Fate

Part I - Chapter XIX

"August 28th, 1922

Today was boring yet interesting at the same time. For a start, Eoin and Matthew weren't finished with their share of notes, so Kelly and I agreed to give them until Wednesday to finish. On the other hand, there's what happened in war gaming today.

We finally got our uniforms today. They were delivered to our rooms, in which was were instructed to change into them as quickly as possible before heading out to the field. They were most certainly not what I was expecting. What stood out to be the most was that they included tunics that are a darker shade of blue than our cadet uniforms, standard army pattern webbing, and Adrien helmets that bore the Lowlander Lion. The same kind that King Albert wore during the war. I know for a fact, Takashi was disappointed. A disappointment I somewhat share as I myself was expecting at least the same uniform as the soldiers were commanding. In my foremost opinion, I look like what a fantasy writing thinks a modern soldier looks like.

Speaking of the soldiers, I was genuinely surprised by who the soldiers I'm going to command are. The Lance Corporal was Cousin Jeb himself! Molly and I have seen him since we left Bonnievale. He reassured the rest of the soldiers that they were in "good hands." The rest of them include:

Corporal Peter O'Shea, an Irishman who was practicing to be a priest in Cork before being conscripted (We Catholics are not immune from conscription).

Private Harold Burns, a butcher's apprentice from Glasgow.

Private Sean MacManus, whose family have a sheep farm in the northern part of Ireland (I can't recall what part exactly).

Private Toby Graham, whose father was a candidate for mayor in Charlieton in 1916 and 1920 for the Farm and Fishery Party (Came in fourth place in 1916 and second in 1920).\

Private Norman Lake, who comes from a fishing family in Kingston upon Hull. Private David Laverick, a pharmacist's assistant from Leeds.

Private Hamish Macintosh, who is, very fittingly, from a family that specializes in apple farming. How they managed to apple farm in Scotland is an interesting feat.

Private Malcom Hunter, whose father owns a general store right on the border between Tobia and Baker Commons.

Private Aaiden Hughes, a Welshman who worked at his father's butcher shop before conscription. A fact that at one point defused a fight that almost broke out between him and Harold when they first met.

Needless to say, I'm in command of a rather colorful ground of men.

Once war gaming was over, we went back to our rooms to change. When I got there, I found Cloudia lying on the bed. I figured she was taking a nap, so I changed in the bathroom. On my way out, she was up and on her way out of the room. But there was something about her that I found surprising. She looked like she was in low spirits. Before she left he room, she turned to me, forced the best smile she could and asked me if I "knew what a scale back was." I knew what it was, giving that Sean mention it earlier. I answered with "the part of a scale that has the numbers." To that she smiled and said, "at least I know there are still kind men like you in the world." She left the room and I found myself alone, wondering what happened.

Gyoral told me at dinner that some of the Irish cadets called her that after an incident. Molly wasn't there as she was sitting with Cloudia this time, and Sarah was with her fellow members of the academy's equestrian club. Upon hearing this, Ezekiel voiced his disapproval while Biden was focused on his notes from class. I wasn't sure where Eoin was.

Right now, I'm writing this as quietly as I can as Cloudia went to sleep before me. Even while asleep she has this sorrowful look on her face. I hope she's alright by the morning. And hopefully my wrist won't be sore by morning for that matter.

-Edward MacGregor"