The dense scent of earth and damp leaves filled Seraphina's senses as she stretched her limbs, the stiffness in her muscles reminding her that she was no longer in her comfortable bed. The air was crisp, carrying the distant sounds of rustling foliage and faint birdsong. As her mind sharpened, so did the realization—this wasn't just some elaborate prank. Her grandfather had truly gone through with it.
She took a deep breath, running a hand through her tangled hair. This wasn't the first time he had thrown her into chaos, but this… this was next-level madness
Sighing heavily, she shook off the last remnants of her frustration. The cool forest air was the only thing that calmed her, but even that couldn't keep the bitterness from bubbling inside her.
A sudden flashback caught her off guard—a child's laughter echoed in her mind. Papa, a younger Seraphina, had said, running to her father, who had just returned from duty. Still in his uniform, he picked her up and hugged her tightly. "When I get as big as you, I'll protect our country too," she had told him, eyes shining with youthful admiration.
The memory faded quickly, and Seraphina's eyes darkened. How foolish I was, she thought bitterly, a small, self-deprecating laugh escaping her lips. What was I thinking?
.
A flash of movement caught her eye, and before she could react, a sharp voice broke the silence.
"Hey! Who are you?! Do you even know where you're standing? And what's with the bed? And why the hell are you dressed like that in the middle of a battlefield?!"
Seraphina turned her gaze toward the source of the voice—a young man, probably a trainee himself, standing a few feet away. His expression was a mix of shock and disbelief as he eyed her disheveled appearance.
She could hardly blame him for his confusion, and she definitely didn't look like the typical soldier.
Her black oversized t-shirt draped lazily over her frame, paired with black knee-length shorts. Her long, wavy hair was messily tied up in a bun, with a few rebellious strands framing her striking face—deep green eyes, sharp yet hypnotic, and lips that carried a hint of natural rouge. Even fresh from sleep, there was an effortless beauty to her, wild and untamed.
Before she could respond, another person approached. The moment he laid eyes on her, his mouth fell open. He pointed a trembling finger, struggling to form words.
"Y-You… you… you're—JayJay!"
Seraphina groaned internally, so much for keeping a low profile.
She ignored them both and started walking towards the forest, uninterested in whatever nonsense they were about to spout.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! You didn't even answer me! It's dangerous here!" the first guy yelled again, clearly not giving up.
Seraphina stopped mid-step and turned her head slightly, her sharp eyes locking onto him like a predator spotting prey. The sudden intensity in her gaze sent a chill down his spine, his body instinctively stiffening.
Then, she smiled. A slow, knowing smirk that spelled nothing but trouble.
"Oh? So you want to help me?" she mused, her voice honeyed with mischief. "Well… thanks a lot then."
Before they could react, she moved—fast. Her movements were fluid, effortless, lethal.
A sharp jab to the first guy's neck and he was out cold before he could even gasp. The second barely had time to process what happened before she grabbed him by the collar, twisted his arm behind his back, and sent him crashing to the ground. Within moments, both of them were tied up like helpless prey.
Seraphina dusted her hands off with a satisfied clap before crouching beside the one still conscious.
"Now," she drawled, tilting her head with an almost playful expression, "why don't you tell me what's going on here, hmm?"
The young man trembled as he looked at her, fear evident in his eyes. His voice wavered as he stuttered, "T-This is the first selection test… for the 400 recruits trying to enter the military forces."
Seraphina raised a brow. "And the task?"
"Uhmm… we have to collect badges from other soldiers while protecting our own. The ones who make it to the end with enough badges qualify."
Her smirk widened. "Oh? So you were planning to rob me?"
The man flinched, his guilty silence confirming the accusation. Internally, he was screaming. Mom, I wanna go home! People here are scary!
Seraphina sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Well, thanks for the explanation." She stood up and stretched. "Now, since you were so kind, I'll return the favor."
The young man sighed in relief—until he realized she was stealing their supply bags. His heart sank as he watched her take their shoes, rifles, and rations.
"At least leave our uniforms," he pleaded weakly.
Seraphina wrinkled her nose. "I'd rather walk around in my own clothes than wear those sweaty rags. Consider it your lucky day."
She was about to leave when she suddenly tensed, her sharp senses picking up something in the distance. Footsteps—several of them.
She grabbed the supplies and darted into the forest without hesitation. Her movements were swift, calculated. She didn't stop running until she was deep enough, blending seamlessly into the dense foliage.
On the other side, a group of young soldiers arrived at the scene, their leader stepping forward to assess the situation. Their eyes landed on the unconscious recruit, then the one still tied up, trembling.
The leader narrowed his eyes. "What happened here? Did you get into a fight?"
The tied-up recruit swallowed hard. He had no idea how to explain that a single girl—who had just woken up, no less—had taken them down like it was child's play.
But one thing was clear:
This test had just become a whole lot more interesting.