Soldier's secret

7. ~The strange feeling of new places~

(I honestly don't know what to say-)

The day had finally come. As the sun rose, I stood at the edge of the woods, duffel bag slung over my shoulder, waiting for Enzo. The early morning air was crisp, and a nervous excitement twisted in my gut. This was it—the beginning of everything I'd been working toward.

Suddenly, the low rumble of an engine broke through the stillness. Enzo's car appeared, sleek and powerful, gliding up the dirt path like it belonged in a high-speed chase, not a quiet rural road. It was a black, luxury sports car that seemed entirely out of place in our small town, all smooth lines and gleaming chrome. As it pulled up beside me, the window rolled down, revealing Enzo with a cocky grin.

"Hop in," he said, leaning over to open the door.

I couldn't help but smile. For someone who'd been through so much, Enzo certainly had a way of making things feel like an adventure. I climbed into the passenger seat, the leather cool beneath me. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior—sleek, minimalistic, with glowing dials on the dashboard. As I settled in, Enzo revved the engine, and we took off down the road, the scenery blurring as we sped toward the academy.

"Nice car," I said, half-joking, trying to distract myself from the growing nervousness.

Enzo smirked, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. "Figured we might as well make an entrance."

The drive to the academy took a little over an hour, but it passed quickly, the anticipation building with every mile. I found myself glancing at Enzo more often than I meant to, grateful for his presence beside me. He was calm, steady, and somehow that made me feel like everything would be okay, no matter what happened.

As we rounded the final corner, the academy came into view, and my breath caught in my throat.

The school was nothing like I had imagined. It was massive, more like a fortress than a campus. High stone walls surrounded it, ancient and imposing, with iron gates that stood at least ten feet tall. Beyond the gates, I could see rows of buildings, each one built from the same gray stone, standing tall and solid against the backdrop of the mountains. It looked less like a school and more like a military base—designed not just to teach, but to harden.

"Wow," I breathed, my eyes wide as we approached the entrance.

Enzo slowed the car as we reached the gates, which swung open slowly as we were buzzed in. Beyond the walls, the grounds opened up into vast training fields, obstacle courses, and shooting ranges. Cadets dressed in military uniforms moved in perfect unison, jogging in groups or standing at attention as their instructors barked orders. The whole place buzzed with a disciplined energy that made my skin tingle.

The main building loomed ahead, a massive structure with towering pillars and wide steps that led up to its entrance. Flags from different countries hung from the sides, flapping in the breeze, and the insignia of the academy—a fierce eagle clutching a sword in its talons—was etched into the stone above the door.

Enzo pulled up in front of the main building and killed the engine. We both sat there for a moment, taking it all in. I felt small and insignificant compared to the sheer scale of the place, but at the same time, there was a thrill to it. This was where I would be forged into something greater.

"You ready?" Enzo asked, his voice softer now, sensing the weight of the moment.

I nodded, even though my heart was pounding in my chest. "Yeah. Let's do this."

We got out of the car, and I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder. As we walked up the steps, I couldn't help but notice how the cadets stopped to glance at us—at Enzo, really. He walked with the confidence of someone who had been here before, who knew this place inside and out. It made me wonder how much of his past was tied to these very grounds.

Inside, the building was just as impressive. The floors were polished marble, and the walls were lined with portraits of distinguished soldiers and graduates from the academy. The air smelled faintly of old wood and metal, like a library crossed with a battlefield.

We were soon greeted by a stern-looking man with sharp features and graying hair, dressed in a perfectly pressed military uniform. His eyes swept over us, pausing briefly on Enzo before turning to me.

"Welcome to the academy," he said in a deep, authoritative voice. "I'm Adam Ferrell, headmaster of the school."

"Thank you," I replied, trying to hide the nervous tremor in my voice.

He gave a curt nod before addressing Enzo. "Good to see you again, Fereano. I trust you've been keeping your skills sharp?"

"Always," Enzo replied, his tone polite but guarded.

Ferrell looked between the two of us, his expression unreadable. "I understand the two of you came here together, but you should know—due to the difference in your levels and experience, you won't be in the same division. Enzo, you'll be placed in the advanced classes. You've already been through most of our training once, and we expect you to excel. As for you," he said, turning his gaze to me, "you'll be starting with the recruits."

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I knew there was a difference between our levels of experience—Enzo had been through real combat, had survived things I couldn't even imagine—but hearing that we wouldn't be training together stung more than I expected. For weeks, I had relied on his guidance, his presence. Now I would be on my own.

"Of course," Enzo said, his voice calm, though he glanced at me with a flicker of concern.

Ferrell continued, "This academy is designed to push each student to their limits. You won't have time to rely on each other. That's the point. You'll be forced to stand on your own. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," I said, though my chest felt tight.

"Good," Ferrell said, nodding. "Now, if you'll both follow me, I'll have someone show you to your respective quarters."

As we followed Ferrell down the long hallway, I couldn't shake the heavy feeling settling in my stomach. I had been so focused on the academy, on the dream of becoming a soldier, that I hadn't fully considered what it would mean to be separated from Enzo. He had been my anchor through everything—my guide, my mentor, my... something more.

Now, we'd be in different worlds, him in the advanced classes, me starting from the bottom.

When we reached the point where we'd part ways, Enzo turned to me, his eyes softening. "You'll be okay," he said quietly. "This is where you prove what you're made of."

I nodded, forcing a smile. "I know. I just... I'll miss training with you."

He gave a small, understanding smile. "Me too. But you're ready for this. Trust yourself. I'll be watching, even if we're not in the same classes."

It was a small comfort, but it didn't erase the ache of knowing he wouldn't be by my side. I had grown so used to his presence, his steady support, that the thought of going through this without him felt daunting.

"Good luck," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"You too," he replied, his gaze lingering on mine for just a moment longer before he turned and followed the headmaster down the corridor.

I watched him walk away, feeling the distance between us grow with each step. This was the beginning of a new chapter, and I would have to face it on my own.

With one final glance down the hallway where Enzo had disappeared, I squared my shoulders and prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

Okay but this is  so sad 😞🤷🏻‍♀️
Anyway 1378 words