"Careful now," Medea whispered in his ear, her voice like ice. "One wrong move, and this could be your last day."

Before the captain could respond, a voice boomed from behind them. "Enough!"

Medea stepped back, lowering her sword as the crowd parted to reveal a tall, imposing figure. The general of the army. His presence commanded respect, and the soldiers immediately straightened, their playful attitudes fading as they recognized the authority before them.

The general's eyes flicked between Medea and the captain, his expression unreadable. "What's going on here?"

Medea sheathed her sword, her posture relaxed as if nothing had happened. "I was just observing your training," she said casually, "but your captain here seemed to take issue with that."

The captain opened his mouth to protest, but the general silenced him with a look.

"Follow me," the general said to Medea, his tone curt but not unkind. He turned and began walking toward the barracks, and Medea followed, her curiosity piqued.

Once they were out of earshot, the general spoke again, his tone more thoughtful. "I've seen enough to know that you've survived real battle. Your technique is far too refined for someone who's never been on a battlefield."

Medea glanced at him, her eyes sharp. "I've seen countless battles," she replied simply.

The general nodded. "That's what I thought." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I need someone like you to help prepare my soldiers. There's a feeling in the air, and I suspect war is coming."

Medea's expression didn't change, but her mind sharpened with interest. "What war?"

The general's eyes darkened, and he lowered his voice. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. But trust me, it's coming."

Curiosity piqued by his earlier remarks, Medea followed the general through the barracks. He walked with the calm confidence that comes from having experience in war, but the way he talked about an impending conflict made her nervous.

"Tell me more about this war you're expecting," Medea probed as they passed groups of soldiers engaged in various drills.

The general glanced at her sideways, his brow furrowing slightly. "I don't have all the answers yet," he admitted, his voice low enough to avoid being overheard. "But there are whispers—rumors of growing tensions in the east, close to our borders. My sources say there's movement—armies gathering, but no clear direction."

Medea frowned, mulling over his words. "And you think they'll make a move on Zarpha?"

The general sighed, rubbing his chin. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. But I don't like being unprepared. We need to tighten up our ranks, train harder, faster. That's why I need someone like you."

Medea raised an eyebrow, sensing he was leading to something. "Someone like me?"

He stopped walking and turned to face her. "You know what you're doing. It's obvious from how you handled my captain—" his lips twitched slightly, "—and how you've observed the men. You've survived real battles. I need someone to help whip these soldiers into shape before something breaks loose."

Medea let the compliment hang in the air for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning his face for sincerity. She was intrigued, but she wasn't about to throw herself into anything just yet. "And what exactly do you have in mind?"

"You've got a sharp eye," he said, breaking the silence. "That much was obvious from how you handled Vale." He paused, extending a hand toward her. "General Aric Venloris by the way. I don't believe we've been properly introduced."

Medea took his hand with a firm grip as she met his gaze. "Medea," she replied simply, though with respect. "And no, we haven't."

The general nodded, releasing her hand. "Vale's a damn good captain, but he needed humbling. You gave him that."

Medea raised an eyebrow. "He'll get over it. Men like him always do."

Aric let out a low chuckle, his scarred face breaking into a slight grin. "True enough. I have to say, though—your technique. It's more refined than anything I've seen from a mercenary or a noblewoman who's dabbled in swordplay. You've fought in real wars, haven't you?"

Medea's expression didn't change, but her mind flickered with memories she preferred to keep buried. "I've seen my share," she replied quietly. "More than I'd like to remember."

The general studied her for a moment. "I figured as much. That's exactly why I need someone like you."

She crossed her arms, her lips curving into a slight smile. "So, what are you proposing, General?"

He met her gaze, his expression serious. "I want you as co-captain, alongside Vale. He's a good leader, but we could use your experience. Together, you could whip these men into shape."

Medea let out a short laugh, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Co-captain, huh? With Grumpy Pants?"

Aric smirked, shaking his head. "Vale's one of our best, and stubborn as hell. But don't worry, he'll come around. He just needs to learn that being the best doesn't mean you can't learn something new."

Medea's smile widened. "I can live with that."

Aric clapped her on the shoulder. "Good. Let's get back to the men. They need to hear this from me."

By the time they reached the training grounds again, the soldiers had gathered, their faces showing curiosity as the general raised his hand for silence.

"Listen up!" the general's booming voice cut through the chatter. "Today, we've had the pleasure of witnessing someone with skills beyond what most of you have ever seen. This here is Medea, and she'll be joining us as co-captain alongside Vale."

There were scattered murmurs of surprise, and all eyes turned toward Medea, sizing her up.

Captain Vale, still recovering from his earlier humiliation, stepped forward. His expression was more subdued now, a mixture of grudging respect and lingering pride. He extended a hand toward Medea, and she accepted it with a firm shake.

"I owe you an apology," Vale said, a bit more sincere this time. "I misjudged you."

Medea smirked. "Apology accepted. Just don't make it a habit."

Vale chuckled, loosening up. "I won't. But I'm looking forward to a rematch."

Medea's smirk deepened as she teased. "I'll go easy on you next time if you ask nicely."

The captain laughed, shaking his head. "I need you at your fullest."

Medea leaned in, her voice lowering to a playful challenge even though she meant her words. "You wouldn't be able to handle my fullest."

Vale's eyes gleamed with the thrill of the challenge. "We'll see about that."

The general, watching the exchange with amusement, clapped his hands again. "Alright, enough of that. Let's get back to work."

Vale turned to Medea, gesturing toward the soldiers gathered around. "Okay… Where do we start, co-captain?"

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