Hinata had returned from Elena island.
The trade had been a success, the island was secured and Ali was out of her hands.
She was now on her way to report to Princess Elizabeth.
She expected to see her stressed, dealing with a broken and depressed Alexander.
But, when she entered Elizabeth's office she was met with the exact opposite.
Elizabeth was humming quietly as she kicked her feet and filed papers.
Hinata cleared her throat, and Elizabeth slowly looked up.
"Ah, Hinata, you're here! So… how was the trade?"
Her voice was chipper.
Hinata raised an eyebrow as she closed the door.
"It went well, you're highness. The island is secured and the sultanate is pacified."
Elizabeth giggled.
"Oh, the good news just keeps coming."
Hinata blinked.
"Have I missed something, your highness?"
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Oh, nothing… Just that, Alexander might be a little more goal-oriented. You know?"
Hinata almost scoffed in disbelief.
The Alexander she saw was broken beyond belief.
What could've happened in such a short period of time?
"Your highness, can you clarify?"
Elizabeth stood up with an expression of ecstasy.
"Why don't we head down to Fort Daname? I want you to see for yourself."
Hinata stood.
"As you wish."
— — —
The journey to Fort Daname was filled with conversation about the Elena island mission.
"Ah, so that's why the number of dead was so high. Those pirates had a Sparsian officer in their ranks?"
Hinata nodded.
"Not just any officer, he disguised himself as a lieutenant. But during our talks, I found out he's the Ferik of the janissary."
She shook her head.
"And Alexander almost killed him in a fit of rage…"
Elizabeth giggled to herself, "sounds like my Alex."
Hinata frowned.
"Your highness, you said he changed? Alexander. What do you mean?"
The carriage rolled to a stop as Peirre's voice rang out.
"You're Highness, Dame Hinata, we're here."
Elizabeth's smile widened as she opened the carriage door.
"Oh, you'll see."
Hinata sighed and followed Elizabeth out of the carriage.
Fort Daname was just ahead, and it was a beehive of activity.
She could count hundreds of recruits near the gates.
Her eyes narrowed at the sight.
"Even more people are joining his core? This is fast…"
Elizabeth nodded as they approached the gates.
"Fredrick had an effective recruitment campaign."
She spread her arms wide.
"The damned 33 of the colonial marines. Join the most elite military branch of the kingdom."
"Be one of the few, the brave, the elite."
She giggled, stopping at the gates.
"Catchy, isn't it?"
Hinata nodded.
"Something like that."
The duo was greeted by a veteran Marine, who saluted their presence.
"Your highness, the commander is overseeing drills on the parade grounds!"
Elizabeth smiled warmly, walking past him.
"Thank you, corporal."
Hinata said nothing, looming behind Elizabeth with an unreadable expression.
On the parade grounds, Alexander stood in front of 250 Marines.
And behind him were his 'Damned 33' his veterans.
"Today is the first day of a new era!"
He spoke with a crisp tone that rivaled his immaculate uniform.
"And this era… will be defined by its unrivaled victories. Any opponent we face will be so thoroughly defeated, that even their grandchildren fear us. And we will not discriminate."
He paused, raising a hand to his chest.
"Demons, ogres, Jafren, whoever stands against us will fail, fall, and die! Because I believe in the supremacy of our people! And to achieve supremacy I will have you broken! You must forgo your empathy! Your hesitation! Your fears! All that remains is the desire to KILL!"
He threw his hand down.
"You will be forged into monsters, tampered with only by your elite discipline. You will jump when I say jump. You will march when I say march. No matter the obstacle, if I give the order you will obey it. Down to the last man! So, when you say you want to become a marine, this isn't just a job. It's a lifestyle. You will never be the same again, I will ensure that."
Alexander turned to Wagner.
"First sergeant, I will turn these men over to you."
Alexander stepped off the stage.
Wagner stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with a wicked grin.
"From this moment forward, your lives are mine!"
— — —
Hinata and Elizabeth followed Alexander into his office.
"Hi, my love."
Elizabeth stepped to him, hands behind her back.
Alexander smiled, pulling her into his lap.
"Hey, I've missed you." He kissed her cheek, and she giggled.
Hinata blinked.
"Alexander, you seem well."
Alexander looked up, his eyes glowing brighter than before.
"I feel well." He answered, "better actually… I'm just so eager these days. You know?"
He let out a low chuckle, gripping Elizabeth's hip.
"I want to fight, to conquer."
He sighed, softening his grip as he reclined in his seat.
"But, I lack the strength. Fredrick has done a great job getting me fresh meat for the grinder. But they aren't my soldiers, not yet…"
He shook his head, smiling.
"But that's beside the point. You're back, so you've secured the island. Well done."
Hinata felt her hair stand on end.
It wasn't fear…
Or maybe it was, the kinda fear you feel when something is unknown.
Elizabeth cuddled against him, pressing her cheek against his chest.
Hinata forced a neutral.
"Of course, with the island secured you can begin operations immediately. I'd start with intelligence gathering, it's best to know what you're going for ahead of time."
Alexander nodded.
"I have another planned venture to the demon continent. After I complete my academy exams of course."
A beat of silence passed.
Hinata gave him a knowing look, she had to know.
"I'm curious, Alexander. You said demons were our enemies earlier. I'm assuming that means all demons, correct?"
Alexander's grin didn't falter.
"Every single one of them, and not just the men. But the women and children too."
He leaned forward, embracing Elizabeth.
"After all… they aren't people. Right?"
Hinata almost couldn't believe it, she now saw what Elizabeth saw.
And she wasn't sure how she felt about it.
On one hand, Alexander's new attitude lined perfectly with Ambur's ambitions.
With a commander like him, more resources could be extracted to fuel their war machines.
And if he didn't see Demi-oids as people anymore, it would be all the easier.
However, if he didn't truly believe this, it would be infinitely worse.
So she decided to test it.
"Does that include Zara?"
Elizabeth sat up, Alexander's fanatical gaze shifted to something more recognizable.
But it only lasted a second.
"Especially her."
He answered, "That THING, compromised me. It got people killed, slaughtered. And it's the last time I ever put a pet above the mission."
Hinata squared her shoulders, standing tall.
"Very well, sir. May your future endeavors bear fruit as sweet as honey."
— — —
With training under the control of Wagner and Klaus, Alexander felt comfortable returning to the Amburian capital.
The halls of the François Academy of Excellence were a rare sight for Alexander.
He had only seen them twice in the past two years, with this being his third visit.
Every time he visited, everyone avoided him.
And every time he left there was a sigh of relief.
But this time, the students and staff noticed something different about Alexander.
He walked down the halls dressed in the uniform of his colonial marines.
His coat trailed behind him as Elizabeth held onto his arm.
When Alexander entered his classroom, the chatter died.
It was as if a vacuum had sucked the life from their eyes.
Students, mostly nobles Alexander vaguely remembered, stared him down.
Like he was a foreign entity.
"Why does he look so… happy?"
One whispered.
"He used to look so sad, now he's grinning?"
Another shifted uncomfortably as he walked by.
"I heard he captured an island with just 33 survivors, you think he'd be even sadder?"
Alexander took his seat in the back of the classroom.
Crossing his legs as his black, leather boots shone under the ceiling lights.
Elizabeth sat comfortably beside him.
Students occasionally stole glances at him.
Their whispers became increasingly speculative.
Soon the final student stepped into the room. Louise.
She had become even colder since her last fallout with Alexander.
It didn't take long for the two to lock gazes.
Unlike most of the students, Alexander had dealt with Louise for the past two years.
He had to in order to see Ben.
But she always sent her glares and cold shoulders.
And he accepted them, too guilty to defend himself after he wronged her.
But not this time.
"Staring at me again are we?"
He teased, leaning forward.
"What… two years and you never got over the fact I chose Elizabeth over you?"
The class gasped in disbelief.