Nugget`s brows drop low before looking at Targe. I stand in a salute, eyes forward over her hair.

　　"Thank you, general." She says. "That`s unnecessary during this celebration, wouldn`t you agree?"

　　The extended silence draws my attention back to her. With a practiced smile, she holds a steady, unflinching gaze on the general. Most would shrivel under his stare.

　　"At ease, warrior. Take your seat." She says.

　　But I reach over and tug at the back of her chair to allow her to sit first. Why did I do that?

　　"Ah." Buckler sighs loudly. "There are still gentlemen to be found in our young warriors."

　　Beads of sweat race down my back as I sit stiffly next to Nugget. I think back over the transport and our time in the tunnel. What she may or may not have seen me do. Oh shit, the things I said to her. A small breathy chuckle comes from Nugget, and I glimpse her way. Her small button nose points at the very tip. The memory of her face swallowed up by my goggles flashes in my mind.

　　"This is so worth having to take orders from you." She whispers to me.

　　The back of my neck heats and I can`t seem to blink. She darts a look at me before turning straight ahead to the general again.

　　"Now what did you call me . . . frivolous? Careless? No, it was reckless, wasn`t it?"

　　I refuse to answer her unless commanded.

　　"Is this reckless cadet making you sweat, warrior?"

　　She lifts her gold water goblet to hide her smile before tipping her head to greet an official at the head of the table. She`s enjoying this.

　　"Now tell me," she turns to give me her full attention, "why did you call me Nugget?" The minute I see her hazel eyes have turned bright green, my mouth flies open, like a trigger.

　　"Why did you lie?" I choke on my own saliva at my insubordinate tone and bow my head. "Please accept my apology, captain. I . . .I..."

　　I can`t even make up an excuse. I don`t know what it is about her that shakes my careful constructed calm, but she does. Guess it won`t be hard to figure out how to get kicked off the squad after all.

　　"I`ll give you this one, Oren, given our unique introduction."

　　"Thank you." It`s all I can say.

　　The waitstaff fill our wine glasses before moving down the table. I`ve never had alcohol before. Never had the chance. Plus, I have no idea what affect it would have on my powers. And tonight is not the time to try it.

　　"Why do you think I kept my identity from you?" She sets her water back on the table still speaking to me under her breath.

　　I sneak a look at Targe to make sure he`s occupied before I respond. He`s overly interested in me and for some reason the captain is hiding our conversation, so I follow her lead. Her thin pale fingers rest on the stem of her wine glass, but she makes no move to drink it. She looks too delicate to be the captain of the best warriors in the nation.

　　I remember Cole and his followers couldn`t stop talking about the new captain when she joined the Elites a few years ago. Cole said she only got the position because of her family name, the youngest Elite Squad captain in history.

　　It`s hard to tell how old she is since officer training is accelerated. They graduate two years earlier than the rest of us, even though we all start at the same age.

　　"You may speak plainly." She angles her head to the side as if giving me her ear and keeps her eyes across the table.

　　"You were testing me." My voice falls flat with the lie. I think of my trial and know that she and Centrum are setting me up for something or working to get rid of me.

　　"No. I already knew you had skills and from your trial, you are more than proficient."

　　"You didn`t see my trial, no one did." I say wanting her to confirm that`s true. To confirm my powers have stayed hidden.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

　　"Yes, you are correct."

　　My shoulders drop with her agreement.

　　"Yet you survived three demons by yourself."

　　She surveys the length of the table. I stay silent since she didn`t ask a question and I`m worried I`ll blurt out something that contradicts the report I gave in the commander`s office.

　　"So why did I lie, as you phrased it? And speak plainly Oren." She says.

　　"I`m to be watched, guarded. Like a prisoner. For a crime I inherited. Centrum is my cage. And you`re my warden."

　　I turn my head to take in her reaction. I want her to think I know my place, that I`ll be compliant. And I will, until I fail her test and go home. Her eyes, soft hazel again, move back and forth over mine, searching. Her mouth is turned down. I can`t tell if she`s angry at me for speaking too plainly but my defenses kick in and I smooth my mask into place.

　　"I hear you two caught some excitement during your transport." Buckler`s warm, raspy voice breaks the silence.

　　"Yes, sir." Nugget, I mean the captain, responds immediately. "There was an incident at the Hallow Beacon tunnel gate."

　　I reach for my water goblet to keep from answering questions.

　　"What a relief to have the captain of the Elite Squad with you, right warrior?" Buckler beams at the captain, pride shining through his kind eyes.

　　It would`ve been nice to know Nugget was an Elite warrior before I stressed about keeping her and the tunnel guard alive. Her chin rises with the compliment and her smug smile is more than I can take.

　　"Yes, sir." I answer with a smile. "Watching her in the field definitely has me wondering just how competent the rest of the squad really is."

　　Nugget`s body goes stiff with my comment. She knows her performance in the tunnel was one of a distracted, careless, untrained cadet. I`m sure if I look over, angry green eyes would flash my way.

　　"Just you wait." Buckler`s eyes gleam. "Whatever you experienced with the captain in the tunnels is a prime example of an Elite warrior`s abilities."

　　I can`t contain the chuckle that escapes before I pretend to cough. Nugget balls her hands in her lap as a red flush races up her neck. I can feel Targe`s eyes on me, but I keep my attention on Buckler.

　　"It`s odd, isn`t it?" Targe joins in. "What happened in the tunnels." He clarifies. "Another gate breach, isn`t that right Oren?"

　　There`s no mistaking his subtle accusation. A gate breach in the tunnels, a gate breach in the arena during my trial, and a breach the night of the attacks my family caused. What do they all have in common? Me. I was present for all of them.

　　The water goblet in my hand starts shaking, so I place it on the table before looking across at him. Targe`s eyes glint in satisfaction seeing me piece it together.

　　"Not a breach, general." Nugget, er, the captain answers.

　　The general`s face turns cold as he stares her down with the correction.

　　"Yes, that`s quite right captain." Buckler hums, nodding his head in agreement. "The report said the gate was perfectly intact with no signs of forced entry or a malfunction."

　　"It just magically sprang open on its own?" The general huffs, briefly losing his careful composure before his fake smile returns.

　　"I believe our top Centrum technicians did a thorough investigation." The captain adds reaching for her linen napkin. "I wonder if it was the same technician that over saw the trials at your region`s academy, general." She pulls the golden circlet binding her linen loose.

　　"You were in the tunnels as well." She tilts her head to the side giving him a look of concern. "We understand they gate breach at your region`s academy and the tunnels are completely unrelated, but what do you think could have happened?" She drapes the napkin across her lap, effectively pointing out another common factor - Targe.

　　The general keeps his charming smile in place, his mask impenetrable. I`m impressed with the captain`s calm demeanor and cautious of the cold black eyes piercing across the table at her. Thankfully, the waiters place dinner plates on the table and the conversation turns to the delicious smelling meats and vegetable before us.

　　"Well, I was impressed by our tunnel guards and how effective they were in securing the gate." Targe picks up again once the servers leave.

　　"Yes," Nugget agrees, "the tunnel guard was something else wouldn`t you say Oren?"

　　I`ve glued my eyes to the plate before trying to fade into the background and could kick Nugget for drawing Targe`s attention to me again. I face her to respond and see she has her napkin over her mouth, hiding a smile. She enjoys my suffering.

　　"Yes, captain." I think back to Alton raving about her being a crazy warrior with a death wish. "Very knowledgable with his assessments."

　　"We`ll know the cause soon enough, captain." Targe continues cutting through his steak as if it offended him somehow.

　　"You`ll come to see, warrior Oren, what a close eye Centrum keeps on every branch and region of our nation. Nothing goes unresolved or hidden." He looks up from his plate, flashing his teeth before tearing into the chunk of meat on his fork.

　　I grip my seat. I`m already on edge and his well-delivered threat spikes my emotions. Just get through this dinner. I slow my breaths and calm the surge of energy. Soon the rest of the evening will be full of speeches with no opportunity for chit chat.

　　I hold my utensils tight to keep them from trembling. My appetite is gone, but I play my part and cut into my steak. I steal a glance down the table. I envy the other graduates. I envy their carefree laughs and chatter. I envy their future. Their whole lives ahead of them with the promise of family and home.

　　There may be a bigger purpose behind Centrum assigning me here besides keeping tabs on the last big, bad Oren. Targe`s jaw muscles flex with the force of his chewing and I feel like that mangled bit of meat. I took the fall for things I didn`t do at the academy, but this is Centrum where taking the blame can be a death sentence.

　　The captain leans towards me when Targe is pulled into a conversation. "What was it you said to me in the tunnels?"

　　I look at her, my confusion clear.

　　"Oh, I remember. Follow my lead if you want to survive."

　　I see her smile from my peripheral before she takes a forkful of food into her mouth. I`m a pawn in a lethal game, with an unknown objective I might not be able to get through.