Greetings From Ilutae!

Chapter 1: Homework

Chapter 1: Homework

"October 17, 2146 AHW 1. This is my first day receiving this journal. I just joined the Ilutaen military as a soldier under the acies branch, which specializes in close combat such as simple boxing, Eskrima, Kung Fu, Tahtib. The climate on this planet, Lutum, makes the acies training even more difficult since the mud makes our shoes sink deep down. At least I have my friends to help me out. Anya, Ruby, Deston, Emuy, Tallulah, Willow, Alec, and Tamir. These are the only people I can look up to in this dark age of poverty and crime. And I consider myself lucky, because most people don't make it through diagnostic testing."

-Ezran Strankler

I walk through the bright, noisy, streets of district 5 to meet with an arms dealer. My weekly task assigned to me by Lieutenant Ed was to bring in 30,000 Uta worth of H2910 rifles, about 10 of them. The hardest part is not getting caught by the city guards, since security has tripled since the fire. My parents house was struck in the great arson of 2050 AHW 1, and I was the only survivor. I deserve better, it's not fair. So that's why I joined the military, to prevent other countries from causing more chaos. But our country, despite not wanting chaos, has failed miserably at controlling it. About 11% of the population perished because of the fire alone, and that was all the work of one person. The amount of destruction behind that has scared the few of us left alive.

Approaching cautiously, the arms dealer takes a 30,000 Uta banknote from my hand and gives me a large bundle, which I conceal carefully within a cello case.

"We done here?" I whisper so only the person standing in front of me hears.

"Not quite", replies a high-pitched feminine voice. "We still haven't established the fact that you, clearly underage, are meddling around in Fernao business."

"What do you mean?" I say inquiringly.

"Never mind, just get out of my sight before the city watch gets onto us."