Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

their going to dump us on. I mean, even I’ll admit that we’re a handful!”

Once Nameless found a home for the purple blade alongside the numerous lost-tech canisters on his belt, they made their way out of the dormitories and through the academy towards the convocation hall.

There they joined the rest of the cadets who had completed the first phase of their training as they filtered into the crowded hall.

At the front of the room was a raised dais with a podium, behind which were a number of uniformed men and women, all standing at attention in a neat line against the back wall.

A posture the cadets mimicked when Margaret Bloom stalked up to the lectern, her cane sharply rapping against the wooden floor with every other step.

“Alright people, listen up.”

An unnecessary request given the sudden silence that filled the room as she scanned the faces of the nervous cadets.

She paused only briefly to meet Baron’s eyes before she continued.

It was a little-known fact that he Aegis had been stretched thin for years, so the academy had been fast-tracking their best recruits for some time to make up the shortfall. And as such more than a few looked ready to throw up, but Margaret Bloom’s grandson wasn’t one of them.

With their undivided attention on her scarred visage, the headmistress’s voice reverberated throughout the hall.

“Each of you swore an oath, one that makes you part of something far greater than yourselves. And today you join the ranks of the thousands before you that put on the same uniform and made the same sacred covenant, far too many of whom gave their lives to see it upheld. Everything you do, every decision you make, every mistake... all of it reflects on those honoured elders that came before you. Together we are their legacy. Never forget that.”

She paused in the silence of the hall, once more scanning the faces of the cadets and their bond-mates, as if to ensure they did not miss her point.

None of them had.

“From this day on, you will comport yourselves as Aegis operatives. When you leave this hall each of you will begin your field-training. This, as you are well-aware, means a six month internship with a senior operative, followed by an internal review, then a year and a half probationary work on your own. In a moment, Instructor Kavanaugh will read out your names and the names of the Aegis operatives you will be paired with for your field assignments. The men and women standing behind me each have at least ten years with the Aegis, and know exactly what they are doing. Trust them. Learn from them! But also know that they have the authority to end your careers before they begin should you prove yourselves unworthy of this uniform.”

Without another word she stepped back from the podium and paced from the hall, her cane once more echoing around the chamber.

Kavanaugh almost immediately took her place and filled the room with his booming voice, clipboard in hand.

“I will call your name, then the name of your training officer. As soon as you have your assignment, exit the hall. They will meet you there.”

He proceeded to do just that, reading one name after another from his list in his booming voice.

The list on Kavanaugh’s clipboard was alphabetical so Nameless didn’t have to wait long.

“Armstrong, Nameless! You’re assigned to Grant Semper! Assad, Bianca! You’re assigned-”

Nameless didn’t catch the name of her instructor though as he left the hall as instructed.

Within a minute of stepping into the crowded antechamber outside the convocation hall with his girls, a voice called out his name from behind.

“Cadet Armstrong?” The young man turned to find an athletic man with dull brown hair looking at him expectantly.

Nameless shook the extended hand and his senior smiled as he gestured to his two bond-mates with a nod of his head, a Grizzly and a Gnome respectively.

“I’m Grant Semper, this is Bruti and Linda.”

“Um, hi, and it’s Nameless sir.”

For once somebody didn’t make a fuss over his lack of name.

“Alright, Nameless it is then.”

At that moment the massive bear girl let out a gruff growl and opened her mouth wide. Nameless’s eyes boggled at the thick incisors revealed while she yawned.

Grant didn’t miss his trepidation and chuckled slightly.

“Don’t mind Bruti, she just came out of hibernation, so she’ll be a bit grumpy for a while.”

The Grizzly was slightly taller than Milly, maybe six foot eight, with furry rounded ears sticking out of her dark brown hair. Her forearms and forelegs were covered in a thick coat of fur that matched her hair and ended in large paws with enormous black claws.

Her clothing was rugged and functional, with her little stubby brown tail poking through a hole in the back of her thick shorts.

She rubbed at one of her rich brown eyes, still bleary from her long sleep.

“Fuck off.” She said with another growl.

Meanwhile the Gnome caught his attention when she deliberately nodded her head, and now Nameless had to work hard not to stare at the earth spirit.

Though she was as attractive as any monster girl he’d met, her curvy figure looked to be made of clay.

She just seemed so... solid.

“Hello… I’m… Linda.” She spoke slowly and deliberately.

Both girls considered the smaller man while their master continued his introduction.

“Anyways, I’ll be your training officer for the next six months. So we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other. Also, stop standing at attention. Once you complete this training and your probationary stint, you and I will be the same rank.”

Nameless hadn’t even realized that he was standing with his back straight and shoulders squared, the last few months of training had made it a habit.

“Right, sorry sir.”

“Grant, or if you have to,