Seyfe followed Aki in silence, trying to keep his mind focused on the task ahead. He wasn't sure whether he was more annoyed by the fact that he was stuck with this mission or by the absurdity of it all. After everything he had been through, this whole "overseer" role felt like a step backward—like they were treating him like a spectator to a war he had no real say in.
The rest of the cadets accompanying him weren't much better. Some of them had an air of superiority, like they were already too good for this assignment, while others just seemed indifferent. Whatever it was, the mood was one of silent resignation as they made their way toward Spearhead Squadron's designated training grounds.
As they approached, the unmistakable presence of Jannet Dwight, the Veiler Handler of Spearhead, loomed ahead. She stood tall, a commanding figure with her black suit and white-golden cape fluttering in the wind, her posture impeccable and radiating an authority that Seyfe couldn't help but notice.
"Is that her?" Seyfe muttered under his breath, as the others began to fan out around the training area, looking to blend in and avoid attention.
Aki glanced at him with that raven-black hair falling over her face, her expression still unreadable. "Yes. Jannet Dwight, the one you'll be observing. Just… stay out of her way and keep to your role as a watcher. You're not here to interact, just report."
Seyfe didn't respond. What could he say? He wasn't exactly thrilled to be in this position. Watching some Veiler Handler and their squad like a glorified scout for the government was hardly his idea of a meaningful mission.
As they approached, Jannet turned her gaze toward the group of cadets, her eyes scanning them with a cold, analytical look. She gave a small nod toward Aki, who acknowledged it with a slight bow.
"Spearhead Squadron will be running drills today," Jannet's voice rang out, authoritative and commanding, even without raising it. "I expect full cooperation from you cadets. No slacking off. Your presence here is to observe and report—nothing more."
Seyfe felt a shiver run down his spine. The aura around her was different from Aki's calm indifference. Jannet was the kind of person who radiated danger, who didn't need to raise her voice to make you feel like an ant beneath her boot.
With a swift gesture, she signaled for the cadets to disperse and take positions around the training ground. Seyfe followed along reluctantly, choosing a corner to settle into and observe. His job here was to watch, to take mental notes on the Veiler Handler's tactics and the behavior of the Spearhead squadron, but he couldn't help but wonder how long he could keep up this farce of being a passive observer.
The line went silent for a brief moment before one of the cadets chuckled through the earpiece.
"Maybe being an observer isn't that much since we don't have to join in training, right?"
"Yep, and I can't believe the rumors were real. There are so many beauties in this squad compared to us," a voice came through Seyfe's earpiece, the tone light and casual.
"I mean, we do have beauties, but the number of guys definitely overshadows the number of girls in our squad," another voice chimed in.
"Yeah, but damn, Saline and Emi still stand out more, don't you think?" the first voice continued.
"Emi?" Seyfe asked, his attention now divided between the field and his earpiece.
"She's the short silver-haired girl," the cadet explained. "Her build is small, but it doesn't really resemble a child, right?"
"Yeah, I guess," Seyfe muttered, unsure of where this conversation was going. He tried to keep his eyes focused on the training exercises below, but he couldn't help hearing the weirdly detailed conversation unfolding in his earpiece.
"I'd say she's just an inch below average height, to be honest," another cadet chimed in, as if offering expert opinion on the girl's physique.
"Saline might have the buzzed size, but her hair seemed to grow longer," the first cadet added. "She used to have that boyish haircut last month, but now? She's got that feminine, bad girl look, and it seems to suit her better with the longer hair."
Seyfe blinked, processing the sheer randomness of the conversation. "What is this conversation?" he muttered under his breath.
A chuckle came through his earpiece. "Come on, man. You can't expect us to sit here for hours and not talk about something. Besides, we're observers, right? Everything counts."
"Yeah, yeah. But seriously? Can we focus on the mission? We're not here to rate people like we're in a dating sim."
The voices quieted for a moment, then one of the cadets finally spoke up. "Okay, okay, fine. Let's get back to the mission. But still, if this was a dating sim, Aki would definitely be the 'ice queen' route with a tragic backstory."
Seyfe rolled his eyes, muttering to himself. "I'm muting myself," he grumbled, clearly regretting the choice of joining this weirdly personal commentary. He watched as the Spearhead Squadron went through their drills—sharp, efficient, and incredibly focused.
The moment the chatter died down, Jannet barked out a command, loud enough for the entire field to hear. Her squad immediately sprang into coordinated action, responding to her with precision. Seyfe's attention snapped back to the field. He could tell this wasn't some routine drill; there was a purpose behind every move they made. They were professionals.
He stayed quiet for a moment, watching Jannet carefully. She was more than just a Veiler Handler—she had a certain intensity that made the air around her feel charged, like everything she said and did mattered.
"Alright," Seyfe muttered to himself. "Let's see what you've got, Jannet."
The earpiece remained silent for now, and Seyfe couldn't help but wonder if the others were still whispering about their squadmates or if they were actually focusing on the mission at hand.
Jannet's command echoed across the training ground, sharp and precise, as her squad moved like a well-oiled machine. The air around her was thick with purpose, every gesture reinforcing her control over her unit. It was almost like a military regime, with drills that were structured and relentless. However, Seyfe couldn't help but compare it to Aki's approach—also relentless but in a far more twisted, almost sadistic way. He wasn't sure which was worse: Jannet's cold efficiency or Aki's brutal, no-holds-barred approach. Maybe neither. Maybe both.
Seyfe kept his gaze trained on the squadron, tracking their every move as they worked in perfect synchronization, when suddenly, his earpiece buzzed to life again.
"Man, I wish I was there close with those beauties," one of the cadets sighed, his voice dripping with exaggerated longing.
"Right? Like, I would die to be here rather than the Overseer Squadron," another cadet agreed. "But still, Aki? She's such a work of art, it's impossible to ignore."
Seyfe rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to slam his palm against his forehead. He'd had enough of this nonsense already. "Can we keep our hormones in check?" he snapped, voice laced with annoyance.
The voices went quiet for a beat before one cadet chuckled, his tone mocking. "Someone's feeling a bit cranky, huh?"
"Yeah, I mean, look at him. Probably jealous that he didn't get the chance to get up close with the 'beauties,'" another added with a snicker.
Seyfe was too irritated to reply, his focus back on Jannet, who had already given her next command, urging her squadron to shift into more advanced maneuvers. He could feel the tension in the air around them—this wasn't just training; it was a constant test of their endurance, discipline, and willpower. Something about Jannet made the whole process feel smoother, more refined compared to the chaos he had experienced under Aki's supervision.
It was clear that Aki's methods had been about breaking cadets down to the core, testing how much they could take before they snapped, while Jannet was all about precision and discipline. Both approaches were harsh, but in different ways. And both made him question what it really meant to be a Veiler.
But right now, the whispers through his earpiece were wearing thin on his nerves. He was here to observe, to learn—he needed to stay focused.
"Shut up, guys," he muttered, not realizing that the silence in the air around him was a sign that the others were indeed tuning out his irritation. They didn't get it. They weren't here for what was really important.
The line buzzed again, another cadet's voice cutting through the air. "Do we get to take a break?"
Seyfe had had enough. The constant chatter in his earpiece, the seemingly never-ending cycle of training, and the frustration building up from the constant pressure made his patience snap. His hand lashed out, slamming into the trunk he had been sitting on. But in his distracted fury, his aim was off, and before he could react, the ground beneath him gave way. He plummeted, falling straight into the training platform where Jannet was standing.
The cadet voices in his earpiece erupted in laughter. "Oops, looks like someone bit the dust right there."
Seyfe's face flushed with embarrassment as he scrambled to his feet, glancing up at Jannet, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. Her squadron had momentarily halted their training, most of them glancing over at the unceremonious fall of the Overseer cadet.
"Smooth," Seyfe muttered under his breath, brushing himself off as he stood up fully, doing his best to shake off the clumsy mistake.
Jannet didn't immediately comment on the situation, instead, she gave him a brief, almost amused glance before turning back to her squadron. "Get up, Cadet. This isn't a playground," she said with an icy tone that made it clear that there was no room for mistakes, not even the embarrassing kind.
Seyfe shot her a glare, silently cursing under his breath. He had never felt more humiliated in his life, and the voices in his earpiece weren't helping. Some of them had clearly enjoyed watching him fall.
"Cut the chatter," Seyfe snapped back into the line, his voice colder than it had been before. "And keep your focus on the task. We're here to observe, not to play around."
The voices fell silent for a moment, probably processing his irritation, but then one piped up, "Guess he doesn't appreciate the humor."
Seyfe didn't respond. Instead, he stood there, hands clenched into fists at his sides, determined to pull himself together. He wasn't going to let a slip-up like this get to him, not when there was so much more at stake. But the sting of embarrassment still lingered, gnawing at him.
He quickly realized that he had no choice but to embrace the uncomfortable nature of the situation. If he was going to survive in this training, he would need to keep his emotions in check, despite the frustrating and often ridiculous nature of his surroundings.
"Fine, let's get back to work," he muttered under his breath. "I'm still observing this damn circus, whether I like it or not."