The Secrets We Keep

Episode 20: Team One

Lieutenant Vexe's voice tore through the barracks before dawn, jolting us awake. His shouts were routine for morning wake-up calls, but today felt different. The usual sunrise glow was nowhere to be seen, leaving everything shrouded in gray shadows. My limbs felt heavy as I dragged myself out of bed.

"Everybody needs to be dressed and in formation, in front of the barracks, in fifteen minutes!" he bellowed, his deep voice cutting through the fog of our sleep.

We scrambled to pull on our uniforms over our undergarments. Around me, other Spearheads were fumbling with their clothes, cursing as their hands shook from the cold and nerves. As I yanked on my top, I caught Cy's gaze; he was already half dressed, his face set with a steady determination to beat the time.

"Do you know what might be going on?" I asked, knowing full well he probably didn't know the answer.

He shook his head, wrapping his feet with the thick bandages we used as shoes. "Not a clue, but it feels serious."

Figures.

Once dressed, we filed outside into the biting cold, forming up as instructed. Lieutenant Vexe paced in front of us, scrutinizing our faces one by one with his deep brown eyes, his expression unreadable. There were fourteen other King's guards standing behind him, patiently waiting for whatever he was about to announce. To our left, the young Sparks looked exhausted, rubbing their eyes and shivering in the predawn chill. The Reserves stood to our right, silent and wary.

"Listen up!" Vexe barked, his gaze cold and assessing. "Starting today, you're entering a new phase of training. You'll be divided into permanent teams based on your individual performance and skills."

A murmur rippled through the ranks as his words settled over us.

"These teams won't follow your age or rank," he continued. "Team One will consist of the best of you, the strongest and most resilient. The last team? You'll be handling the lowest assignments, cleaning the streets of the Veil District or worse. Team ranking will determine the danger of your missions: the higher your rank, the higher the risk importance of your assignments. Team One will face the most perilous tasks, while the lowest-ranked among the formation will serve as little more than errand runners."

The tension was palpable. None of us expected real missions so soon. My heart pounded with the realization: we weren't just trainees anymore. They saw as tools, ready to be deployed. I knew I'd be placed on Team One, if for nothing else than the King to display me for my lineage alone– a sign of the power in his possession.

Vexe began calling the names, starting with Team Fifteen– the bottom of the barrel. In reality, they were the luckiest of us. As he worked his way through the list, more soldiers began stepping forward and moving into their respective teams, with a King's guard assigned as their team leader. Each time my name wasn't called, my pulse quickened.

After what seemed like an eternity, Team Two was completely listed off, and my stomach dropped.

Vexe looked at the remaining six of us. "Team One: Noemi Seraphiel," he called out, his voice monotone. I stepped forward. "Cyrus Seraphiel."

Cy stepped up next to me, his fingers brushing mine. Even though we were in the most dangerous group, at least we were in it together.

As I looked behind me, I noticed that the remaining group consisted of the Spearheads that were trying to plot an escape yesterday.

And Miriam...

"Del Revar," Vexe added, and the tall dark-haired boy with piercing gold eyes stepped forward. He was the sarcastic one who had joked we would all starve if we left the camp. I had sparred with him before– he was strong, steady, and had the ability to create protective barriers. It was a rare angelic skill, one that would prove invaluable in high risk missions.