Emerald and Barracks

I wake up to the sun shining down on my face from the window. Today's the day, whether I like it or not. I hop out of bed and begin packing a bag. Clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap. I open my closet and stare at the sword mounted on the wall. The glimmering silver katana with flame patterns engraved into it, the blue fabric along the handle, the black hilt. Apparently my mom forged it for me as a gift before I was born. She died shortly after my birth, so I sadly can't thank her for it. I take it off the wall along with the sheets and put it on my back after getting dressed in a black un-zipped hoodie and sweatpants. I open up my drawer and pull out my 6 caliber silver pistol, a gift from my dad.

As I leave my room, sword on my back and pistol on my waist, I see my dad waiting for me at the door. I make my way down the stairs and he extends his arms for a hug. 

"Be safe son." Is all he says.

I hug him back.

"I will. Don't worry."

I pull back and leave the house, starting the walk the General Klein's castle on the top of the hill. Me and my dad never share more than a couple words when we don't need to, we've never been the closest but I still love him. 

I look up at the blue sky, and the white clouds. It's a beautiful day today. If I was still a little kid I'd probably be out in the backyard right now playing, or at my old friend Scarlet's house. I miss childhood. Everything was so much simpler back then. I never would have thought in a million years I'd be off to fight in the most famous war in the world. I finally find myself at the bottom of the hill. It's covered by a forest with a path leading me to the top. I begin up the mountain. 

I see birds, and insects everywhere. Sometimes even a fox. I continue my walk until I see something that makes me stop.

It's a demi-human. Sitting on a fence post, with deep green hair and green eyes. She's wearing a grey jacket with black tights, with a bow on her back along with a quiver full of arrows. Her fox ears swaying in the wind. 

I recognize her.

She's the one I constantly catch staring at me at school. Her expression is blank and I don't think she's noticed me yet. 

Demi-humans come in all shapes and sizes. The most common type however, are the same type that this girl right here is. They look overall human, with normal skin and faces, but with fox ears on top of their heads. They don't even have tails so it would be impossible to tell the difference from a normal human if they hid their ears. 

Other types of demi-humans consist of full on animal people. Like big lizard men or wolves even.

I decide to ignore the girl and keep making my way up the mountain. As I'm passing her though I feel her staring daggers into my neck. I slowly turn around and we make eye contact.

"...Can I help you?" I ask slowly.

She jumps off the fence and approaches me.

"Where are you going?" She asks but I don't feel much care in her voice. 

I decide this is probably a waste of time so I shrug her off.

"It's not of much concern to you so you should probably head back home. You don't wanna be caught up in something you want no part in." I reply. I've always wanted to say something like that, it made me feel cool.

"It's pretty obvious you're going to General Klein's castle, I mean it's literally the only thing up this mountain." Her voice still shows no enthusiasm.

Can she just drop it.

"Yeah, okay. Maybe I am. Can I go now?" This is getting ridiculous. If I'm late I'm gonna get scolded on the first day.

"Can you take me with you?"

What?!?

"You WANT to fight in the war?" I ask.

"Not really."

"Then why do you wanna go!?!" This chick makes no sense. 

"Cause you're going." She says, still devoid of any emotion.

Huh? Is she in love with me or something?

"Why would you wanna go just because I'm going?"

"I owe you. Well, not really. But I owe your mother."

My mom?

"She saved me and my family when I was just a kid, so I think it would make sense to protect her kid too." She answers before I can ask.

"How old are you?" I ask.

"16." She answers dryly.

2 years younger than me.

"What's your name?"

"Emerald." She says. 

"Is that why you stare at me so much? Because my mom saved you?"

"Pretty much."

Somethings bothering me.

"Look, I get you wanna protect me or whatever because you feel indebted to my mom, but I don't think I can let you go to war with me just because of that reason, plus you're only 16. You'd stand no chance." I had to set things straight.

Her eyes narrow.

"I'd stand no chance?" She asks.

"Yeah. So I think it'd be best if you-"

She moves before I can finish my sentence. So fast my eyes can't follow her. The next thing I know, I'm pinned to the ground with her hand on the back of my head.

"What the fuck!?!" Is all I can say.

"Take me with you." 

She has my hands behind my back, and begins to pull them upwards.

"Fine! Fine! Can you get off me?" I yell.

She does what I ask and stands up.

"Jesus." I stand up too.

"Well then. Let's go." She says and starts walking up the mountain.

"Wait up!" I yell and run after her. This girl is scary.

We walk together up the mountain, engaging in the occasional idle chatter.

"What's so great about this Klein guy?" She asks me.

I'm having a hard time figuring out why she asks questions when her voice tells me she couldn't care less, but I answer anyways.

"Well, he's always been good friends with my dad, so I'm fighting for him. It's not really my choice."

"Sounds annoying." She says.

"Yeah, I guess."

"I heard he's not a very good person. Like, sacrificing people and stuff."

"I don't know if it's true or not." I say.

"Apparently his opponent, General Kamikaze is even worse. I heard about this group of people out there who oppose the entire war in general, and are trying to take out both contestants themselves. A rebellion, I guess." She explains.

"Ooooh I see your type now. You're one of those people who eats up all kinds of rumours huh? I have a friend like that." I tease.

"I'm just saying." She doesn't seem very affected by my words at all.

After a good half an hour of walking, the castle finally gets into view, along with soldiers and merchants outside. The two guards out front notice us approaching and walk up to us. 

"You're Link right? The general told us to bring you to his office." The first guard said. He was tall and skinny, in a full suit of armour.

"Yeah, that's me." I say.

"Who's this? The general didn't tell us you'd have a friend with you. Wait. A demi-human?" He stares at her suspiciously. 

I know they'll make her leave if I tell them we just met, so I make something up.

"Yeah, she's my bodyguard. I've known her for years and I can vouch for her."

Emerald looks surprised, but nods.

"Well alright then, follow me you two." The guard begins to lead us to Klein's office. His partner turns to me. A big dude in clad armour. His helmet has spiralling horns and a frown face with fangs on the front, and it covers all of his head. I can't even see his eyes. He has a giant oversized sword on his back. He leans into me, lowering himself to do so.

"Don't let my partner intimidate you too much. He's just a guy who takes his work way too seriously. I'm Slasher by the way." He whispers, his voice deep yet somehow friendly and inviting.

"Slasher! No making small talk with the guest of honour!" His partner yells from ahead.

"Sorry. Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood." Slasher responds. I can hear a smile in his voice.

We make it to outside Klein's office.

"You two go right through this door. He's waiting for you." The serious guard says as they leave us.

"I'll see you around!" Slasher calls out before getting elbowed by his partner.

I wave goodbye to him. If more people are like him, this might not be so bad.

"You ready?" I ask Emerald.

"Sure." She replies.

I push through the door to see Klein sitting at his desk, waiting.

"Who's this?" Is the first thing he says.

"Her names Emerald. I thought she'd be a great help in the war." I say.

"...A demi-human?" He says, sounding unimpressed.

"Yeah. Is that a problem sir?" I say, getting kind of scared. 

...

Silence.

"No, no problem. Thank you for the extra support, we'll need it." Klein finally breaks the silence.

He still doesn't sound very happy but I decide to ignore it. 

"Okay Link, since you're Howard's son I'm assigning you the roll of commander, I'm trusting you." He says.

I'm taken aback but I quickly compose myself. 

"Y-yes sir!" I say.

"And you...Emerald. I don't have any specials jobs for you so you can make your way over to the soldiers barracks. Link, I'll have one of your fellow commanders bring you to the special barracks."

Damn, it seems me and Emerald will be split up for now, but it's okay, we'll meet again soon.

"I'll find you in the dining hall today okay?" She says to me before walking off, being led by a guard.

"Alright, I'll call over your guide too." Klein says to me. He presses a button on his desk and the door opens. A girl walks in. She has light purple hair and eyes of the same colour. I know her well.

"Saffire?!?" I yell, unable to contain my surprise.

"Haha, hi Link. To think we'd be meeting again so soon." She laughs awkwardly.

She's wearing a tight black combat uniform with brown leather buckles along the outfit. 

"You're a commander?!?" I ask.

"Yeah haha. Surprise." She still seems embarrassed.

"Oh you two know each other already. Fantastic. Saffire, lead Link to the special barracks. Oh, and tell the guards outside they can come in too on your way out." Klein says.

"Yes sir." Saffire says as we leave the room.

I didn't expect things to go like this.

---

The guards enter Kleins office once Link and Saffire are gone. 

"You needed something sir?"

Klein nods.

"Did you see that demi-human who left just now? I got word from one of our spies that Kamikaze's army will be attacking us tomorrow afternoon. I want you three to dress up as Kamikaze's soldiers and track down and kill that demi-human. We don't deal with Demi-humans. They only bring bad luck."

"Yes sir!"

The 3 soldiers leave the room.

"What the fuck are you doing Link." Klein mumbles to himself.