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

“Yes si-” Nameless cleared his throat; “Grant. Yes Grant.”

Grant considered the young man in front of him for a moment. He was small to be sure, but he could see the fierce determination behind his eyes.

“Don’t worry, every cadet I’ve ever had takes about a week to relax, after all the stuff being drilled into you at the academy, it’s natural. But school’s over, time for the real world. You ready for it?”

This time Nameless didn’t hesitate.

“I am. What’s next?”

Grant pursed his lips; normally his trainees were shitting themselves with nerves at this point so he had to admit the kid had moxie.

He glanced to the assortment of girls behind Nameless and nodded slightly.

“First thing, why don’t we get out of this crowd and you can introduce me to your bond-mates?”

The room was rapidly filling up and the girls were being forced to bunch around him in the press of people.

Nameless nodded, looking around he spotted Nina, or rather Nina’s hammer, making her way to the door, the Gigas already having lost patience with the crowd.

He took the opportunity for an aside with Grant.

“Sounds like a plan. I should warn you though, one of my bond-mates can be… a handful.”

Volka was standing close enough to hear him over the din and smirked at his words.

Grant gestured to the exit and Nameless’s girls led the way while they talked.

“The giant? Yeah I’ve heard the horror stories. Is it true she put Danielle through a wall her first week here?”

The younger man shrugged.

“Yeah, but in her defense- well, actually there is no real defense. I guess her hand brushed up against her during the physical.”

The incident in question happened on their second day at the academy, and had instantly cemented Nina’s reputation as one not to trifle with.

Grant gave a low whistle.

“Not too shabby. Probably why I was assigned to you, my Bruti here has also had a few dust-ups like that.”

“Did not. Fuck off.”

The bear girl’s eyes were still bleary as she reached out with one powerful paw and cuffed Grant’s shoulder, nearly knocking him sprawling into another Aegis instructor.

“Did… too… funny.” Linda said with a deliberate shake of her head.

It was odd, though she spoke slowly and her head moved just as slowly, the earth spirit had no problem keeping up with them as they moved towards the exit, although more than once he saw her feet sort of shift through the stone of the floor as they walked.

A few minutes later they were outside where it was less chaotic, and they were able to make their introductions properly.

Grant took out a folder and considered the five girls with his cadet.

“This is quite the force you have here, practically two tac-teams all by yourselves huh? Major overkill for our first assignment but that’s alright. Too much is better than not enough.”

“So where are we going and who are we after?” Erica asked while trying to hide her excitement.

Grant’s gaze flicked up to her and the knives bristling from her skin-tight leather suit.

The corner of his mouth twitched briefly before he looked back to the page in front of him.

“We’re headed east. Wool-poachers. Five farms have been hit in the last week so it’s past time we shut them down.”

Ophelia’s wings fluttered in agitation at the news.

“Oh dear. Are the Lambda alright?”

“Pretty shaken up, but so far no major injuries, doesn’t look like there is a sexual component to this.”

She shook her head.

“That’s not how those poor girls would see it. Lambda are very selective about who shears their wool. It’s very intimate for them.”

Grant gave a slight nod of acknowledgement.

“All too true. At first, the people doing this hit them at night. But now they’re being more brazen about it. The last report has them jumping a girl in broad daylight.”

“Fuckers.” Bruti and Nina said at the same time.

The two shared a glance at that, matching frowns on their faces.

“We’ll be leaving right away, you lot geared up? Stupid question, you look geared up.”

As he considered the group he had to admit he was somewhat impressed.

Nameless had the same uniform as Grant did, albeit cadet-white instead of grey. He also had the same sturdy belt around his waist, with a number of canisters already attached and easily accessible in front of his hips, not around behind his back like a lot of rookies wore them.

The knife in its sheath was hardly standard issue, but Grant could plainly see Erica’s heartstone glinting in the pommel and didn’t give it a second thought as he looked to the monster girls at his side.

Milly wore her brown leather hat, as well as jean overalls and a sturdy pack which likely held most of their supplies, and unlike any cow girl Grant had ever encountered, she was armed: Kar’s black spear resting easily against her shoulder.

He didn’t look twice at the Valkyrie or the Flutterby, as both appeared capable; Volka wore her armour and carried her shield with a quiet confidence that he would be hard-pressed to match. Meanwhile, filling the role of the team’s medic, Ophelia was dressed in simple traveling clothes, a satchel of medical supplies over her shoulder.

He pursed his lips though when he took in the Gigas and the Katje.

Nina carried nothing but her hammer and was wearing a simple black tank top and cargo shorts, with no shoes to speak of; while Erica looked like a leather porcupine with all of the knives sticking out of her skin-tight suit.

“You look like you’re off to bed.” He pointed first at Nina, and then shifted his finger to Erica; “And you look like you’re off to murder someone in a sex dungeon.”

“I have my hammer.