The security footage flickered on the screen in front of them, casting a faint glow across the darkened room. Two figures sat comfortably, watching with interest as the footage replayed the scene of Seraphina's unexpected outburst. One was an older man, his face weathered but sharp, and the other was a middle-aged man, his demeanor easygoing despite the seriousness of the footage. Sitting beside them, a young man with an intense presence simply watched, his cold eyes narrowing as he observed the chaos unfolding.
The middle-aged man took a slow sip of his tea, his lips curving into a faint smile. "What a feisty little kid," he chuckled. "It's been a long time since I've laughed this much."
He turned to the young man beside him, his voice teasing. "Isn't it, Caleb?"
The young man, Caleb, didn't immediately respond. His blue eyes, deep like an ocean, fixated on the footage of Seraphina escaping into the forest. His lips curled slightly in a smirk, though the coldness of his demeanor remained. "Yeah, she sure is," he replied in his usual, emotionless tone.
The old man, still amused by the scene, joined in. "Don't laugh just yet. When she enters the second selection round, you'll be her instructor. I hope you can still laugh then."
Caleb's eyes remained fixed on the screen, but a small, almost imperceptible shift in his expression betrayed his amusement.
The older man laughed heartily, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hah, finally, you've been complaining about me being too harsh on my granddaughter. Well, I can't wait to see how she handles you. It'll be a real show when she's under your command."
The middle-aged man, clearly enjoying the banter, leaned back in his chair and smirked. "General Sinclair must have problems with the generation gap, but I don't think I'll have any issues. You won't hear me complain about her, not like you."
The younger man, Caleb, shot a quick glance at him, his lips curling into a smirk. "Really? Aren't you about to cross fifty?"
The middle-aged man's face flushed a deep shade of red as he scowled at Caleb. "What do you know, you little brat?" he grumbled. "Have some respect. I was your instructor once, remember? You owe me, for life!"
Caleb's eyes narrowed in amusement, and he let out a small chuckle. "Sure, sure. You're young enough… to have a round of sparring with me, right?"
The middle-aged man blinked in shock, quickly retreating from the playful challenge. "What are you talking about? Don't be so petty!" he retorted, throwing his hands up in mock outrage. "You want to break these old bones that are still intact?"
Laughter filled the room as the young man's teasing continued, his smirk never fading.
Meanwhile, in the forest…
Seraphina crouched low, hidden in the dense underbrush of the woods. Her green eyes scanned the area, and she could hear the distant sounds of approaching footsteps. Her breath slowed as she assessed the situation. Three people.
She quickly reached for a small stone, her fingers brushing against the rough surface before she threw it with precision, sending the stone clattering on the other side of the clearing.
The sound caught their attention, and the three soldiers immediately tensed. One of them broke away from the group to investigate, leaving the other two standing in place, scanning the surroundings for any threats.
Perfect, Seraphina thought. With a sly grin, she moved silently, her body blending into the shadows of the bushes. She could hear the soldier moving closer, the sound of his boots crunching on the forest floor.
The other two soldiers, still on guard, remained unaware of her presence as they kept their eyes trained on the perimeter.