The Ger Is A Part Timer [BL]

~ 36 ~

Some cadets sat straighter after hearing the instructor's lecture. It was full of gunpowder but weirdly, it motivated half the students, including Fernis who had an unreadable expression.

Gazef, however, had downcast eyes. Was there any purpose in learning this for a paper crown? It wasn't as if he'd be put in a high position in his life to lead or rule over other people's lives. In honesty, he lacked such aspirations. The fact that he lived most of his life in hiding was already proof that such positions came with a thorny crown and a hidden dagger under pillows. 

"A strategic retreat can save lives and turn the tide of battle. It's about preserving resources, not abandoning your mission...", he uttered in repeat the words that Instructor Roth harped earlier. 

Gazef's line of sight wandered to his left. Ah, there's still purpose in learning.

His imaginary peacock feathers suddenly fluttered, his previously low mood enhancing. If he wanted to give everything he had to this person, he'd have to work hard and be knowledgeable enough to stay by his side too.

The subject of his thoughts, Yu Yan, had his mind kidnapped to a land far, far away as Roth continued with a different narration. It was a land of rainbow scalpels and flying butterfly forceps.

The lesson was mind-stimulating enough, but his thoughts kept drifting to his medical course and how much more exciting it should have been. Even now, the syllabus was still a major letdown whenever he recalled. It was filled with basic, uninspiring content. His frustration over it had simmered down, but the lingering disappointment remained. There was not much challenge in memorization.

He glanced over at Fernis sitting at the far end, who remained as composed as ever, looking completely absorbed in the lecture, and then at Chen WangZhi, who was furiously taking notes, a seat or two next to Fernis.

Unlike their spaced seat arrangement, the fourth member of their team was sitting beside him. He always sat next to him, whether it was in their base during the pretest, in class, in the common dining area, or just lounging at their dorm's shared living area.

It almost gave him the illusion that this person would always stay beside him no matter where he went. How strange...

He side-glanced Gazef, who sat with his usual stoic expression, though his fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, a subtle sign that he was perhaps thinking.

When his eyes suddenly shifted over to him, Yu Yan felt electrified and hastily turned his eyes back to the instructor.

A moment later, he was angry at himself. Why is he flustered?! It's not like he's been caught peeping at a naked maiden?!

Gazef, flipping his nonexistent long hair dramatically: Somebody said 'maiden'?

Captain Roth's voice boomed with renewed vigor, snapping Yu Yan's attention back to the present.

"Remember, your decision to retreat is as important as the decision to engage! A poorly timed retreat can cause more harm than charging blindly into battle."

Captain Roth packed up his materials quickly, "That's it for today. Next week, you will be assigned your own virtual pod with Instructor Bryce during your Practicals. Class dismissed." He gave everyone a curt nod and left as the cadets began to scrambled to gather their things and leave.

It was already time for dinner and everyone acted like hungry ghosts. It was also times like this that the department's common dining area was sure to have shoulders running, heels touching.

(A/N: 摩肩接踵 (mó jiān jiē zhǒng) – "Shoulders rubbing, heels touching."
This means people are packed so closely together that they are brushing against each other, making it hard to move. It's an expression for crowded places.)