DEVIL'S advocate

Eleven years had passed since the fateful day that changed my life forever. The memories still lingered, but the desire for revenge had grown into a burning passion to protect others.

As I walked through the bustling streets of the village, a vibrant poster caught my attention:

"MILITARY RECRUITMENT

Join the fight against the Devils!

Earn honor, prestige, and protect your homeland!

Enlist now!"

I quickly ripped off a tab from the poster with the recruitment center's address and tucked it into my pocket. My heart racing with excitement, I rushed through the winding streets, dodging villagers and market stalls. I had to share the news with Mike.

I burst through the door of our small cottage, out of breath. "Mike! Mike, you won't believe it!"

But instead of Mike, I was met with the surprised face of his mother. She was sitting in the living room, a look of concern etched on her features.

"Hey, dear! What's wrong?" she asked, rising from her seat.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "The military is recruiting, Mrs. Starseeker! We can join the fight against the Devils!"Mike's mom looked concerned, her brow furrowed. "I don't think this is a good idea, boys. The military is no place for you. It's too dangerous."

But Mike and I were resolute. We had made up our minds, and nothing was going to change that. We exchanged a determined glance, and without saying a word, we knew what we had to do.I stood up, my mind made up. "I'm going, Mrs. Starseeker. I have to do this."

Mike nodded in agreement, and we both headed out the door, leaving his mom's concerned expression behind.

As we walked through the village, Mike's mom called out, "Be careful, boys!,We waved goodbye, our hearts set on our goal.

We made our way to the woods, where I had been living for the past few years. As we approached my cabin, I saw a figure emerging from the trees. It was my mom"Levi, I was just coming to see you. What's going on?" "Hey, Mrs. Emberfell!" Mike said, with a friendly smile. "We're going to join the military and fight against the Devils!"

My mom's expression turned pale, and she grasped my arm. "Levi, no! You can't do this. It's too dangerous."Mike stepped forward, his eyes determined. "We have to do this, ma'am. We owe it to ourselves and our families to fight back."

My mom's grip on my arm tightened. "But Levi, you're all I have left. I couldn't bear to lose you."

I gently prised her hand off my arm. "I'll be fine, Mom. I promise. I have to do this."

My mom's eyes filled with tears, but she knew she couldn't stop me. "Be careful, Levi. Come back to me."

Mike and I nodded, and with a final glance at our worried moms, we set off towards the recruitment center.

As we walked away, I could sense my mom's eyes on us, her worry and fear palpable. But I knew she wouldn't stop us. She knew how determined we were.then I asked her to come with us,she agreed and we continued moving, soon we the recruitment center, my mom followed closely behind us.The Sergeant at the entrance named Ryder raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see a parent accompanying recruits.

"Ma'am, I'm afraid you can't be here," Sergeant Ryder said, his tone firm but polite.My mom stood her ground, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm not leaving my son," she said, her voice firm. "He's all I have left."

Sergeant Ryder's expression softened slightly, but he shook his head. "I understand, ma'am, but this is a military facility. You can't be here during the enlistment process."

My mom's face set in a stubborn expression, and I knew she wouldn't back down. Mike and I exchanged a worried glance, unsure of what to do.but Sergeant Ryder stood tall, his broad shoulders squared and his chest thrust out. His rugged face was etched with deep lines, a testament to years of service and hardship. His piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into those he looked at, as if sizing them up and assessing their worth. A distinctive scar above his left eyebrow added to his rugged appearance, giving him a battle-hardened air. I stepped forward, placing a hand on my mom's arm. "Mom, please," I said, my voice soft. "You have to trust me. I'll be okay."

My mom's eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of understanding. But then her face crumpled, and she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Levi," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I'm scared. I don't want to lose you."

I hugged her back, feeling a lump form in my throat. "You won't, Mom. I promise. I'll come back."

Mike placed a hand on my mom's shoulder. "I'll take care of him, ma'am. I'll make sure he's safe."

My mom pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed. She looked at Mike, then at me, and nodded slowly.

"Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll wait outside. But promise me you'll come out and tell me everything."

I nodded, feeling a surge of love and gratitude for my mom. "I promise, Mom."With one last glance, my mom turned and walked away, leaving Mike and me to continue the enlistment process.

Sergeant Ryder watched her go, a sympathetic expression on his face. "Alright, recruits," he said, his voice firm once more. "Let's get started."Sergeant Ryder gestured for us to follow him, and we walked into the recruitment center. The room was filled with rows of desks, where other recruits were busy filling out paperwork.

He led us to a desk at the back of the room, where a clerk was waiting with a stack of papers.

"Recruits Levi and Mike, reporting for duty," Sergeant Ryder said, his voice firm.

The clerk looked up, nodded, and handed us each a thick stack of papers."Fill these out, please," he said, his voice bored. "Medical history, next of kin, that sort of thing."

Mike and I nodded, took the papers, and sat down at a nearby desk to begin filling them out.As we worked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. We were really doing this. We were joining the military.

After completing the paperwork, Mike and I were ushered into a large assembly hall, where a sea of faces awaited. The room was filled with other recruits, all eager to begin their journey.

As we found our seats, I noticed a few familiar faces from the village, but also many new ones. There was a tall, muscular guy with a confident grin, a petite girl with a fierce determination in her eyes, and a quiet, reserved boy who seemed to be observing everything around him.

Just as we were getting settled, a loud voice boomed from the front of the room, and the assembly fell silent.

"Welcome, recruits!" the voice thundered. "I am Chief General Orion, and I will be overseeing your training. You have all taken the first step towards serving our great nation, and I commend you for your bravery."

Chief General Orion was an imposing figure, with a strong jawline and piercing brown eyes that seemed to bore into our souls. He surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on each of us before moving on.

"Over the next few weeks, you will undergo rigorous training to prepare you for the challenges ahead. You will be tested physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I promise you, it will be worth it."

As the Chief General spoke, I felt a surge of determination course through my veins. I was ready to give it my all, to prove myself and make a difference.

Mike, sensing my enthusiasm, grinned at me, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing: we were in this together, and we would come out on top.

As the assembly continued, we met more recruits, including Eryn, a skilled archer with unparalleled accuracy; Arin, a charismatic leader with a natural talent for strategy; Lyra, a soft-spoken genius with an uncanny ability to hack into even the most secure systems; and Kael, a brooding loner with a mysterious past and unparalleled combat skills.

Together, we were a diverse group, each with our unique strengths and weaknesses. But as we looked at each other, I knew we shared a common goal: to protect our nation and defeat the Devils.

As the assembly came to a close, Chief General Orion's voice echoed through the hall once more.

"Remember, recruits, the journey ahead of you will be challenging. You will face obstacles, setbacks, and sacrifices. But I promise you, it will be worth it. You will become part of a proud tradition of brave men and women who have defended our nation against the Devils."

With that, the assembly hall erupted into a flurry of activity as recruits began to file out. Mike and I exchanged a look, our hearts racing with excitement.

We were really doing this. We were joining the military.

As we followed the crowd, I noticed a figure watching us from the sidelines. It was Sergeant Ryder, his eyes narrowed slightly as he observed us.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. What was he thinking?

But before I could wonder any further, Mike nudged me forward."Come on, Levi. Let's get moving. We've got a lot to do before training starts."

I nodded, and we followed the crowd out of the assembly hall, ready to face whatever lay ahead.