The War Games

Chapter One: A Hard Story to Tell

Chapter One: Kaia's Arrival

I sigh as I walk up to the General's door, my hands trembling ever so slightly. It's been one year and eight weeks exactly since my graduation from the Imperial Spy and Mercenary Academy, the most elite spy school to exist. Kept deeply under wraps, it is the top school for spies and mercenaries who loyal to the Sixteen Plan countries- hopefuls from Blue, the Jaeya Isles, Saharadia, Crane, Xiang-zhi, Santa Divera, Hollist itself, and various other countries all across the world who, decades ago, sought to unite and form a peaceful alliance prepared to fight together in times of war.

Like now, when the northern superpower known as Gremitrovakia moved to attack, invade, and claim all of Asia and Europe, so the Sixteen Plan countries - fighters for justice and freedom - jumped to protect them. And I? I fight too, in my way - espionage.

After weeks of waiting and applying, I'd finally found the job I had been searching for. Head Mercenary of Hollist, a country with one of the largest armies fighting for the Sixteen Plan - and leading the war effort. Years of training have brought me here, as well as my parents' reputations, and though it hurts to admit, possibly my mother's connections. Here, in the fort where my mother lived and spied, where my father visited for countless meetings with the Master and Fort General of Hollist, and where I am now.

I slip my hand inside my black leather jacket, and clutch the sheaf of papers that I brought.

My credentials from the Academy.

My various mission reports.

My diploma.

My summons from General Alexander Wilding, whose father had been the general my mother spied under and my father reported to as an ambassador.

And this.

Miss Kaia Najar,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am the Fort General of Hollist, Alexander Wilding. I understand that you have recently applied for a mercenary position in the Hollist Army. Having reviewed your application, I understand that you are the daughter of Janelle Williston, who was the Head Mercenary under my father, the retired general Jeffrey Wilding, and also of Onaddo Najar, the Head International Communicatory Diplomat for Hollist. Seeing as you are the daughter of two people who were quite important to Hollist's success in the war, I have accepted your application. You'll find the summons attached.

That had hurt. My whole life had been dedicated to making my own path as a spy, finding my own way in the world separate from my parents' connections. And while all that had changed in the past year and a half, it still pained me to know that while I had my reasons now to choose this job, my acceptance had still been influenced by my mother and father.

I understand that you have trained the full thirteen years at the Imperial Spy and Mercenary Academy, and cannot pretend I am not impressed. In addition, I have seen your toll: one killing? Extremely unorthodox. That alone made me want to meet you.

He would not be so impressed if he knew how the deed had torn me apart for days later, would not want to meet me if he knew the amount of time it took to accept the fact that I had killed an emperor. That I, a mere sixteen at the time, had killed someone.

Finally, I know that while you are definitely loyal to Hollist - your mother lived here her whole life, and your father is from a Sixteen Plan country and the HICD to boot - I still must ask you if you are loyal. Being in the espionage business is obviously quite secretive, so I will be tracing your family tree for loyalty and inspecting all of your mission statements.

I sincerely hope you agree to come. I desperately need a spy at the moment, and you seemed to appear right when I needed you - and you're the cream of the crop, no doubt.