Free Web NovelChapter 12: Death Squad
Ahead, another cluster of tents came into view.
At first glance, it looked no different from the rest of the camp—white canvas shelters, stacked supply crates, weapon racks, and soldiers gathered around scattered fires. Some were cleaning their armor; others rested after training.
Roughly twenty people occupied the area. Most were past their twenties, and they carried themselves with the easy confidence of veterans who had already lived through real battle.
But six of them stood out at once. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Three young men sat near one of the fires. The first was broad-shouldered, with cropped brown hair and the heavy build of a front-line fighter. A massive sword rested beside him, and even seated, he looked ready to draw it in an instant.
Beside him, a leaner young man idly cleaned a dagger. A thin scar cut across one eyebrow, and though his posture seemed relaxed, his hands never stopped moving.
The third was adjusting the straps of his leather armor, listening quietly to the others. He had the alert stillness of someone who could react before most people even sensed danger.
Not far off sat three women.
Two of them were striking enough to draw the eye the moment Ravian noticed them. One had red hair tied back, sharp amber eyes, and a small beauty mark beneath her lower lip. She carried herself like someone used to standing at the front rather than hiding behind others, and confidence practically radiated from her.
The other had a colder kind of beauty—long black hair, green eyes, an elegant bearing, and a calm expression that lent her an almost untouchable air.
The last girl was less eye-catching than the other two, though still attractive. She had short chestnut hair and a poised, graceful look about her.
Together, the six naturally drew the attention of everyone around them.
Malrik slowed his steps.
"We’re here."
Several members of the squad looked up, noticing the unfamiliar young man at his side.
"This is the Death Squad’s section," Malrik added casually.
Ravian studied them in silence. So these were the people he’d be fighting alongside from now on.
"Hm?" The broad-shouldered young man frowned.
"Who’s this, Captain?"
The conversations around the fires gradually died down, and even the three women turned their attention to Ravian.
Malrik cleared his throat.
"This is Ravian Veyr. He’ll be joining the squad starting today."
"Tenth-Rank Awakened." Then he added.
Silence.
Then—
"What?!" Nearly everyone reacted at once.
"Captain, you’ve got to be joking," the broad-shouldered young man said.
"He doesn’t even look twenty."
There was no hostility in his voice, only disbelief. Ravian looked far too young for a battlefield like this one.
But before anyone else could speak, the red-haired woman narrowed her eyes.
"Did you just call me weak, Darius?"
"L-Lysandra, that’s not what I meant." Darius stiffened.
"It sure sounded like it."
"I was talking about him," Darius said quickly, pointing at Ravian.
"Come on—doesn’t he look a little too young to be here?"
Most of the squad glanced toward Ravian again.
Ravian met their stares with mild boredom, as if the whole conversation had already grown tedious.
"No." The answer came from the scarred young man and the black-haired woman at the same time.
Both paused, briefly surprised that the other had spoken.
"It seems Evelyne noticed it too." The scarred young man went first.
"Noticed what?" Darius frowned.
The scarred young man tilted his head slightly toward Ravian.
"That ’boy’ has killed before."
The mood shifted instantly.
"More than once, judging by the way he carries himself. Look at his stance. He’s relaxed, but not careless. If anyone here gave him a reason, he wouldn’t hesitate to draw that sword." Kael continued calmly.
The squad fell silent.
Now that the thought had been planted, several of them began to see it too. Ravian looked thin, young, and somewhat pale, yet there was something deeply unnatural about how calm he stayed while surrounded by armed strangers.
Only four people seemed unsurprised by Kael’s observation: Malrik, Evelyne, Kael himself, and Lysandra.
"It seems none of you were listening properly, so let me repeat myself—with one small addition." Malrik sighed.
The grin on his face made it obvious the addition was anything but small.
"What is it, Captain?" Elias, the calm brown-haired young man, spoke first.
"As I said, Ravian is Tenth Rank. That already puts him around the level of most people here." Malrik’s grin widened.
"Only the six elites are above him."
Tenth Rank.
At his age, that alone meant something.
"And the little addition?" Darius asked impatiently.
Malrik smiled.
"He’s also the disciple of the Company Commander himself." He paused deliberately.
"Sir Karius Dmitri."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then several backs straightened at once.
Only after that did the whole area erupt.
"What the hell?!"
"He’s Sir Karius’s disciple?"
"Captain, why didn’t you say that first?!"
"Ah... Ravian, right? I’m Darius. Swordsman. Nice to meet you." Darius straightened almost instantly.
The shift in attitude was so abrupt it was almost impressive.
One by one, the others introduced themselves.
"John. Archer."
"Mark. Spearman."
The introductions continued until only the elite members were left.
"I’m Kael," the scarred young man said, offering his hand.
"Assassin. Ninth-Rank Walker." freewebnσvel.cѳm
"I’m Elias," the brown-haired young man added calmly.
"Close-combat fighter. Nice to meet you."
Ravian returned each greeting politely.
Then the three women approached.
Now that they stood closer, Ravian noticed just how striking they truly were—especially the red-haired and black-haired women. Both carried themselves with the composed elegance of nobles, though their lean builds made it clear they were trained fighters first and foremost.
Still, Ravian only offered a polite smile.
"Claria Morven," the chestnut-haired woman said gently, extending a hand.
"The squad’s healer. And that’s Tom, my assistant."
"Nice to meet you," Ravian said with a nod.
"Evelyne. Mage." The black-haired woman smiled faintly.
Her eyes lingered on him with open curiosity.
"I like you already."
Unlike the others, she seemed more intrigued than surprised.
"Nice to meet you too," Ravian replied.
Then Lysandra stepped forward.
She stopped directly in front of him and looked into his eyes without a word.
One second passed.
Then another.
Ravian held her gaze calmly, though he couldn’t help wondering why she kept staring at him.
’What exactly is she trying to do?’
"I’m Lysandra. Swordswoman." Finally, Lysandra spoke.
Her tone stayed cool and perfectly steady.
"I’ll be leading this squad eventually. Then the platoon. Then the company after that."
Her amber eyes narrowed slightly.
"Since you’ll likely be under my command for a long time, I hope you won’t grow arrogant simply because you’re the Company Commander’s disciple."
She took half a step closer.
"And I’d appreciate it if you looked at me with a little more respect than that."
Several people visibly tensed, but no one interrupted her.
Lysandra’s reputation spoke for itself. She wasn’t only monstrously talented—she was also the granddaughter of the Grand Duke of the Veyla Grand Duchy. And unlike most nobles, she had the strength to justify her arrogance.
But unfortunately, Ravian knew none of this.
