Chapter 24: A full day’s Attire
He turned to see a man striding toward him, his uniform immaculate and tailored perfectly to his lean but sturdy frame. The silver streaks in his hair caught the light, and his piercing gray eyes locked onto Elias with a mixture of curiosity and formality.
The man came to a halt just a few paces away, his posture as crisp as his uniform. "What are you doing here, sir?" His voice was steady and authoritative, yet not unkind. "Did the bus driver drop someone at the wrong location again?"
Elias adjusted his grip on his bag, standing a little straighter. "Hello, sir. My name is Elias. It's a bit of a long story, but I was invited to meet with Geras." He reached into his pocket and produced the ticket. "This was given to me by him."
The man stepped forward, taking the ticket without hesitation. His eyes scanned it carefully, his expression never wavering. After a beat, he folded the paper and handed it back.
"This is definitely from Warden Geras," he said, his tone clipped but professional. "But it's a training ticket for the Officer Academy. You'll have an audience with him only after completing the standard preparatory requirements."
Elias stiffened, the reality of what that meant sinking in. Images of endless push-ups, laps, and drills flooded his mind, sending a faint chill through him. He exhaled slowly, muttering under his breath, "I guess that makes sense."
The man's gaze lingered on him, sharp and assessing. "My name is Lieutenant Oliver. I'll see to it that you're properly prepared to meet the Warden. And the first step..." He gestured toward Elias's hair with a faint frown. "...is fixing that disaster on your head. If you're going to wear it long, it needs to reflect the military's standards of perfection. Follow me."
Elias blinked, caught off guard, but nodded, falling in step behind the Lieutenant as they headed toward the gilded doors.
Oliver pulled out a sleek communication device, its polished metal surface catching the light as he activated it. He scrolled through the interface with practiced ease before selecting a contact. Holding the device to his ear, he waited a beat before a firm voice answered on the other end.
"Commander Exaizer speaking. What is it, Oliver?"
"Commander, I have a civilian here with a signed ticket for an audience with Warden Commander Geras," Oliver began, his tone measured. "He arrived with the convoy that was attacked en route."