Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Recruitment

“To make sure I understand correctly,” Sergeant Major Niman said.  “You two are seeking around a dozen students to join you on a covert military operation.  Do you have any specific criteria involved?  Any particular specialization you wish your team to focus on?”

“Specialization as in–?” Mirae started before being cut off.

Sergeant Major Niman smirked.  “Glad to see a crusty old soldier can still teach you wunderkinds a thing or two about battlefield operations.  When you’re choosing the members of a special operations team, you’ll need a mixture of soldiers with various specialties which complement both each other and serve the broader ends of your mission.  

“For a team of twelve, you’d be looking at two healers, one person to handle logistics and party communication, two or three people with different elemental affinities who can serve as ranged fighters, and two or three individuals with specialization in Physical enhancement who can serve as short-range defenders.  Two of your slots are flexible, depending on the needs of the mission.  Sometimes you want more reconnaissance specialists, other times, you want to be more combat-oriented, and those spots will let you balance your team accordingly.

“With the exception of the logistics and communication operative and the two healers, the team is flexible to some degree.  However, and I will ride your ass on this, you do not engage in any operations or form any team without at least one Water-element Cultivator.  And for a team of twelve, I’d recommend a second if you can spare it in case the first gets incapacitated or worse.  

“You can eat off the land if you need— hunt wild animals, forage for berries and plants, especially this time of year.  And if you need to go a day or two without, your combat efficiency will suffer, but you’ll live through it.  But if you don’t have a source of clean water, you’re dead in two days.  Three if you’re lucky.”

“Understood, Sergeant Major,” Lysette said, standing up and offering a handshake.

Sergeant Major Niman smiled.  “You two may be powerful Cultivators far beyond me, but you’re still green about the ears.  This is the military.  And we salute in these parts.  But never when near the front or behind enemy lines.  That’s just asking for your commanding officer to get smoked.  Now then, do you have any questions?”

Lysette nodded.  “No, Sergeant Major.  The two of us will take your advice into consideration as we pin down exactly how we want to build a team.”

“As you will, Ma’am.  Also, if any of my soldiers give you flak, tell them they can see me if they don’t like it.  And if they refuse to do so and continue giving them trouble, just try not to go overboard.  I’d prefer not to have to explain to my superiors why we’ve got multiple enlisted men off to the infirmary.”

“Understood, and thank you once again.”  

The two exchanged a salute before departing.  Mirae slipped their hand into Lysette’s as they surveyed the area, watching the training and sparring throughout the campus.  Lysette thought it a bit strange that relatively little Cultivation itself was taking place throughout the campus, though she reasoned that the Royal Army cared more about ensuring basic discipline and interoperability of soldiers than working to maximize the combat capabilities of any given students

There were larger concentrations of Essence inside the many classrooms, where crash courses on logistics, operations, and management were taking place.  Lysette was content to look around and watch the proceedings, but a familiar voice focused her attention.

“Lyse?  Is that you?”

Lysette turned around to see Kiarra standing a few paces away with her trademark scowl.  Her golden hair was still as long and flowing as ever, though in place of her usual blouse and pants, she was wearing a uniform not dissimilar from Sergeant Major Niman.  Kiarra bowed slightly, and accepted Lysette’s offer for a handshake.

“I trust you’re well, Kiarra?”

“All things considered.  It’s been a pain, being in constant classes on command and leadership.  It feels good to get out and get some fresh air, even if just for an hour.”

“Love,” Lysette messaged.  “Would you object if I offered Kiarra a spot on our team?”

“Are you sure it’s a good idea?  I know you mentioned that the two of you reconciled somewhat while I was with Serrena in Ciricu, but can we trust her?”

“I don’t think we can.  I don’t fully trust her, and yet, I think that’s exactly why we should bring her.  It’s better if we are working alongside people who don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with our ideals or worldview.  It forces us to consider alternate perspectives.  Just as I had to after meeting with Saffron.

“Beyond this, however, I was thinking about what the Sergeant Major said.  We need a solid team composition, and while we might not be focusing on combat operations, Kiarra is going to have the best training when it comes to international affairs, as well as knowledge of nobility, etiquette, and various gossip about the leaders of different nations.  At the very least, she’s going to at least know who and where to look further, and that’s already valuable.”

“That all makes sense.  If she tries anything, and you feel like you can’t take the necessary action, I will.”

“Are you two ignoring me?” Kiarra asked.

“No, we were discussing something,” Lysette said.  “Would you like to come with us?”

“Go with you where, exactly?  I don’t even have an hour left to eat lunch before I have to report back to class.  Like, it’s nice to catch up and all, I guess, but–”

“On a special assignment.  I’m recruiting some of my friends and acquaintances to go on a special mission at the behest of the castle.  We’ll be going north, keeping an eye on Terean forces and helping keep Domaria’s northern flank defended from any aggression up there.  I won’t try to force you, but I think you can really help us out.  Plus, I’d be in a better position to continue to help you with your Cultivation as we agreed upon.”

“I thought you had forgotten.”

“No.  In fact, I’m continuing to work on it whenever I have an opportunity.  Including for a couple hours this morning.  Anyway, you don’t have to decide right now, but please, give it some thought.”

“Alright.  Then, I guess I’ll talk with you later.”

Kiarra jogged off toward the dining hall, but before Lysette could have a moment to catch her breath or discuss things further with Mirae, the couple was interrupted by another young woman.  But this time, it was a face Lysette didn’t recognize.

“Mirae?  Is that you?”

Mirae turned around.  “Lilia?  Is that you?”

“Oh wow!”  The woman— Lilia, apparently— said.  “I’d heard the rumors that you changed up your appearance.  But, um.  Yeah, I wasn’t expecting this drastic of a change.”

“I hope it doesn’t make you uncomfortable, Lilia.”

“I mean, I know what you’ve tried to tell me before, but it didn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.  I didn’t know how to explain the discomfort I felt, being in the body I had, in a way that would make sense to someone who’d never felt those same feelings before.”

“You’re happier now, though?”

“I am.  Thank you.”

“Well, Mirae, are you going to introduce me to your new girlfriend?”

Mirae blushed a bit.  “Lilia, this is Lyse, my girlfriend.  And Lyse, this is Lilia.  She was, and I suppose still technically is, my roommate here at the Academy.”

Lysette shook Lilia’s hand.  “It’s nice to meet you.”

Lilia smiled.

“How are you holding up?” Mirae asked.  “It’s been a few weeks.  A very hectic few weeks.  Constantly doing one thing, then another and another.  I’ve barely had time to relax, and I don’t think I’ve had a restful night of sleep in close to a month!”

Lysette and Mirae shared a knowing glance.

“Oh, that sounds like not a lot of fun at all.  Are you back for good?”

“No.  We’re actually just here to recruit some students for a special assignment.  Speaking of, would you like to join us?”

“Are you sure you want me?”

“We were just talking with the sergeant major in charge of overseeing the regiment on campus, and he gave us some advice on constructing our team composition.  And, with his advice, Lilia, I do think that you’ve got some valuable abilities and I would like you to join our team.”

“Oh, um.  Do I need to do anything special to prepare?”

“I don’t think so.  Maybe meet us on the dorm rooftop tonight?”

“Well, you can count me in as a volunteer too!”

Lysette turned around and saw a grinning man.  The face seemed familiar, but she couldn’t put a name to it, nor immediately recall where she’d seen him before.

“Gerald?  Is that you?” Mirae asked.

Lysette remembered the young man now.  One of the people who’d accompanied Mirae to their fan-club-or-maybe-cult-initiation meeting back a little less than two months ago.  And again when he appeared at the group Cultivation the night of her conversation with the Chancellor.  But with so much of her mind caught between planning, Cultivation, assisting the Cultivation of her followers, and fighting off multiple attempts on her life, his name and face must have slipped from her mind.

“I know I’ve seen you once before, but I still have trouble believing that’s really you.  Your face is a lot more square, but more than that, you’re a lot more confident than the meek Cultivator I met a year ago.  Gotta say, you’re looking good!”

Mirae smiled.  “You’re sure about wanting to join us?  I can’t promise you a bunch of thrills and excitement.  We’re going to put you to work, and we’re going to make you do a lot of Cultivating and maybe some fighting on the front lines.  You might get hurt, or worse.”

“I am sure.  I don’t know what you two have been up to, but you’re being talked about as the heroes of the Academy by some of the students.  You and your friends have saved our lives not once, but twice.  And now you’ve got some special mission that only you can do, fighting not just for the people of the Academy, but for everyone on Domaria.

“I realize I’m nothing special.  Plain, ordinary, nothing unique about me compared with the thousands of other students here.  But if I can do something to help out my country for a change?  Then yes, I will gladly go with you.”

“Thank you, Gerald.  We’ll be meeting about an hour after sundown on the dorm rooftops, okay?”

“I can’t even skip the rest of these training classes?”

Lysette smirked.  “And after that rousing speech about protecting the Academy and your country?  I would have expected you to redouble your efforts the rest of the afternoon.”

“You make a fair point, Lyse.  Well, I’m going to go hurry up and get some food.  I’ll see you both tonight, I guess.”

“Love?”

“Yes, Lyse?”

“Can you find where Amalia is?  I’d like to see her next?”

“Lyse?  We need to graft my long-distance telepathy onto your Cultivation path, and preferably sooner rather than later.  As warm and fuzzy as it makes me feel to know you are relying on me, I feel like you should have the ability to communicate with your clergy directly.  And, to answer your question, she’s still resting upstairs in the infirmary.”

“Shall we?”

Chapter 180: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110306772

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/table-of-101896170

Chapter 182: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110306777