The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

THE three military guys who heard about Reas going to the Imperial Military Academy had different expressions on their faces.  Edmund looked genuinely surprised.  Hildred had an amused smile as if he found something very interesting.  While Wulfric had a stinky face as if he had eaten a spoiled food.

          Reas was annoyed seeing these reactions.  What, did these people think that he was not soldier material or something?

"What a coincidence," Hildred said.

Astrid quickly caught the inflection of his words.  He was definitely not just saying that because he truly thought it was a coincidence.  Although he had only interacted with this guy for a short time, he kind of understood what the other's nature was.  You know that kind of neutral evil who enjoyed watching interesting things unfold in front of him.  So, he knew that the other was definitely alluding to something.  Something that he found interesting.

This kind of personality was really kind of irritating.  If you're a bit slow in the head, you probably wouldn't even know that you had been tricked by this type of person.  The best way to handle this type was to read between the lines of what he was saying.  That way, you wouldn't be deceived.

"Oh, is it because he will also be a soldier just like yourselves?" he asked innocently.

"That's part of it.  Your brother can find out during the opening ceremony of the Academy," Hildred answered.

Hearing that answer and looking at Wulfric's annoyed expression, Astrid almost had an answer to his question.  So, he decided to just voiced it. 

"Is Your Highness going to be there during the opening ceremony?"  All four looked at him almost at the same time when he said that.  It was kind of comical in a way.  So, he could only smile and ask in that innocent way of his, "Am I wrong?"

Hildred felt like that question was mostly directed at him.  Because not only was the other looking at his direction, his gaze looked like it was saying, 'I know you wanted to be mysterious, too bad I already figured out what's happening'.  He almost laughed.  What an interesting kid.  No wonder he got Wulf so hooked on him in just a short time.

"You're right," Wulfric said, confirming Aster's guess. 

There's really no reason for them to hide it.  And more importantly, it was Aster who was asking.  He couldn't just give him the wrong information. 

He glanced at Aster's twin brother who didn't remotely looked like him.  Really, he didn't expect that this kid would actually want to become a soldier.  Considering how he didn't even show a tad bit of admiration when he found out that he and Edmund were soldiers the first time they met.

It was fine if they were just ordinary soldiers.  But they're not.  He was the youngest person to ever get the title of 'general' in the history of the Empire.  No matter how stinky his reputation might be, those people who wanted to become a part of the Empire's military would still look at him with awe. 

And yet, this brat here had only ever looked at him with contempt ever since they met.  He couldn't even be bothered to show a bit of fake respect.  And now he was suddenly told that this brat actually wanted to become a soldier?  If Aster was not the one who said it, he might not actually believe it.

Just like him, Reas was also looking at the prince.  Hearing that the other would actually be there during the opening ceremony of the Imperial Military Academy, his expression became sullen.  If possible, he didn't want to see this person's face again for a long time.  But who would have thought that he would see him again so soon and on the academy's opening ceremony no less?

The only consolation he had was the fact that Astrid wouldn't be there.  Who knew if this guy would use some kind of excuse just so he could spend time with his brother?  This situation was the perfect example.  That thing they're spouting about wanting to make it up to him because of the injury they caused was obviously just nonsense.  It's only an excuse so that he could prolong his time with Astrid.

Just thinking of that, he couldn't help but glare again at this pretentious prince.  When the other noticed his gaze, he wasn't scared and he even scoffed at him.

Wulfric felt a vein in his forehead was about to pop.  He had to take a deep breath and tell himself that the other was Aster's brother.  He couldn't just throw him out of this aircraft just because he was annoying as hell.  But he really wanted to beat him up.

Remembering that he would meet the other again at the Imperial Military Academy, an idea flashed in his mind.  Something that could teach this little brat a lesson and at the same time not make Aster angry at him.  Thinking of that possibility, half of his annoyance dissipated a bit.

"Is Your Highness the guest speaker during the academy's opening ceremony?" Astrid asked.  This time, he genuinely wanted to know the answer to that. 

"Yes," Wulfric confirmed Aster's guess again.  "I will also be a special instructor for the first week of class."

Edmund glanced sharply at the general.  Didn't the lieutenant say that the general refused that offer of the academy and only reluctantly accepted the 'giving a speech' part?  Did he change his mind without telling the lieutenant about it?

Hildred didn't have any obvious reaction by what Wulf said.  The corner of his lips just rose imperceptibly.  Because he already had an idea on what's going on in Wulf's mind for him to say that.

Both the twins didn't expect that someone like Wulfric would actually go out of his way to personally teach the incoming freshmen of the Imperial Military Academy. 

"Then Reas will be in Your Highness' care for a week," Astrid said.

Wulfric smiled meaningfuly, "Oh yes, I will definitely take care of him." 

Reas somehow felt goosebumps when he heard that.  Just what was this guy planning?