Author's Note

Okay, so, the format of how I'm doing this story is going to be every other chapter will be the backstory for Cindaria, (minus the first chapter). If you guys dont like this, then let me know. Also, if you like this chapter HIT that like button. LIKE A BOSSSSSSSSSS.

A piece of the Past - PT 1

"The first several days after my initial arrival in Avalar was pretty standard when it came to capturing illegal immigrants. I went through processing at a nearby town which, at the time, had me explain where I'm from, what my skills were, and why I was in Avalar. Now, being an individual that had no skills other than computer analysis and accounting, I was majorly fucked."

"Back then, those who were caught breaking into the country without a passport had to do community service for a designated amount of time. This sentence was mostly for proving our worth to the country. To show that we wouldn't be a burden on society until we gained citizenship. It was a good system as it allowed immigrants to gain experience, learn the laws and customs, and allowed the military to monitor and remove all the bad apples who proved to be a problem for the country."

"Because I had no skills that were useful to the country like Blacksmithing or Farming. I was forced to serve a minimum of four years in the Army."

"Being a female in the military all those years ago must have been horrible. I remember most women eventually leave for a multitude of reasons. The largest of which had to be the danger of becoming a War Trophy. I know it's a sore subject to mention, especially knowing the fate of Sofia. But how did you survive, General?"

"By being the most vicious bitch in the country. Well, after I got over the fact that I was in another world, killed a dude, and gained a pair of tits. I wasn't all that stable back then."

"Alright, get up you maggots! I want all you cock-sleeves off your asses front and center for your daily fucking!" screamed the deepest, most terrifying voice in existence. My fellow recruits and I rushed to get out of our straw beds, fearful of the wrath of our drill sergeant.

The sounds of many women tripping, groaning, and screaming to get out of their beds filled the near pitch-black room. I was, much to my horror, the only one to get out of bed, stand at attention at the base, in under ten seconds. As any slower would lead to punishment, however, being the first one to be in position meant that I became the unfortunate soul to face the drill sergeant first thing in the morning. And once everyone got into position, he automatically stood before me, glaring pure death straight into my soul. I gulped as I got a good look at the monstrosity called: Master Sergeant Tiffiny Vel'Suki.

He stood at a mindboggling seven-foot-two, had muscles forged by benching entire mountain ranges. Vel'Suki was a white Tiger Felana—a race of anthropomorphic animals native to Fauroa. Which, when I first met Vel'Suki, proved that I wasn't on Earth anymore. I'm pretty sure a seven-foot-two tiger that can punch boulders to dust wasn't something the government could hide from the general populous. His eyes were bright pink, his claws sharp, and his authority absolute.

What made him even more terrifying had to be the anaconda between his legs. I had the unfortunate pleasure of accidentally walking into his room when looking for the Fort's Nurse for my check-up. I don't think there is a single female in the world that could fit that thing without being ripped asunder. And having him let out a purr of amusement when I stopped to stare at it, only made the situation more awkward and embarrassing.

"Private Cindaria!" Vel'Suki shouted out for everyone to hear. "Since you were the first one to stand at attention. You get to lead the rest of these whores on a fifteen-mile jaunt through the countryside! NOW GET MOVING!"

"Ahh, I remember Vel'Suki. He was such a gentle giant. It's a shame he's no longer with us."

"I agree, even though he was a major ass during the first four years of my life. I can remember all the times he purposefully chose me for his amusement. How he thought my misery during training was the most entertaining thing he witnessed in his entire life. Though, when not on duty, he gave me comfort when no one else will."

"Vel'Suki tended to be soft with those he knew didn't belong. His empathy made a lot of friends, and many more enemies. Cinder, are you alright?"

"Yeah, there's just...just something in my eye..."

"Is there something in your eyes, bitch! Is the pain too much for you?! Get your whore-ass up, and back into formation!" screamed Vel'Suki before grabbing my silver hair and tossing me back towards the marching platoon of soldiers in training.

Its been one week since I began my life as an Avalarian soldier and I'm already regretting choosing it as my profession. If I had the chance to go back in time, I would tell myself to become a Miner or Farmer instead of Soldier. The hours were long, I barely slept, everyone chose me as their punching bag, (even though I was five-nine), and the Sergeant purposefully targeted me for all the punishments.

I knew being a soldier was hard; that only the most physically fit and the sound of mind would survive. But after being forced into a body that was not my own, I had to prove that I was strong. That I would not become a pussy to be used to make babies or pleasure men. I knew being a woman in the army would show my strength, but I don't know If I'll even survive basic training. Let alone actual combat. I feel like I've made a horrible mistake.

Speaking of mistakes, I'm being punished for one already. One of the other soldiers—a blond high-elf named Syvilis—sabotoged my equipment during the march. Using his magic, he cut my bag open, causing all my rations, water, clothes, tent and shovel to scatter all over the road in the middle the temperate forest surrounding the Fort. This event made Vel'Suki extremely angry, and he vented that anger by literally turning me into a punching bag.

Without any warning, I saw stars in my vision and on the ground staring at the clear blue sky. My nose hurt, but that wasn't the only thing in pain. When I failed to get up from my daze, Vel'Suki kicked my stomach, sending me sprawling a few feet away. I could hear the laughter of my comrades through mute clarity; how they found my pain amusing to them. I couldn't understand why I was the target for their ire. Was it because I was the only girl in the platoon? Was it because I was a half-breed of a Felana and a Human? There were other girls in the Fort as well. So why weren't they getting bullied like I was? Fuck, it felt like high-school all over again, but this time with swords and shields instead of garbage cans and toilets.

After losing my stuff, I was forced to continue our march without my gear. Which also meant I didn't have food and I had to sleep without shelter. Plus, without my shovel, clothes, and other stuff made everything during our three-day field exercise all the more miserable. My only saving grace came in the form, (much to my surprise), Sergeant Vel'Suki.

The third day of our exercise ended with me sitting alone underneath a tree to stay dry. It started to rain just as the sun fell below the horizon, signaling all but me that it was time to find shelter. Those who didn't have chores called it early for the night, and those that did, completed their tasks as quickly as possible.

I shivered slightly from the cold wind. It was going to be another long and restless night. I had my coat wrapped around me like a blanket with my knees held close to my chest. I sniffled, a cold was starting to make its presence known. The others in my squad were laughing by the fire. I bet they were enjoying their time without me. I held my knees tighter, hoping to stave off the cold until the morning. My wrongful punishment would continue until we returned to base, where I would have to go through debriefing before returning to the place where my equipment was left behind, and retrieve it. However, after a few minutes of moping in the rain. I felt something wrap around me followed by a deep and familiar voice making its presence known.

"Here, Private Cindaria. You need this more than I do," Vel'Suki said with a shockingly warm and gentle voice. Hearing his voice come out of nowhere made me jump out of my skin. Even my long, fluffy, foxtail went completely straight with the fur standing on end. And when I looked up from my hunched position, all I could see was a smirking tiger, purring in amusement.

"W-What are you d-doing here, Sergeant?" I asked through chattering teeth. His gaze softened for a moment, making the monster of Fort Delvani look rather cute for an anthropomorphic cat. I moved slightly away from him out of fear when he sat down next to me. Every encounter I've had with the Sergeant always ended with pain, and I don't know what I've done to earn his attention again, but I knew by the end of the night. I'll have another black eye. Hell, since I'm the only girl in the company. I bet he's planning on giving me to the men to be used! Fuck, I-I have to get out of here! I don't care if I get deported to one of the other countries. I'd rather be a homeless loser than—!

"At ease, Cinder. You need not worry about anything bad happening to you while under my command," Vel'Suki consoled with a hand resting on my shoulder. For some reason, that calmed me down, if by a little bit. I was still on the defensive, and I made sure my dagger was at the ready in case he attacked me, but something tells me that it won't be needed. "Though, I can't say the same for your squadmates."

"How d-did you know what I was thinking?" I frowned, tugging his oversized jacket around my shivering body for warmth. It smelt like maple. 'Home.' I blinked away a tear trying to form.

"Let me ask you something first," he hummed thoughtfully. "Why do I deliberately target you? Why do I give you the most grief, and cause you the most pain even though you've only started training a week ago?"

If it wasn't for the fact that I was completely miserable at that moment, I could have figured out his reasoning. In hindsight, I should have known that, because I was a girl in a medieval army, I was at risk of being raped, captured, or tortured by not only our enemies but by our allies as well.

Back then, even now, a female soldier fighting on the front lines would be seen as a War Trophy. Not only that, but girls are generally weaker than men, and not as emotionally strong. Vel'Suki thought I was born a woman, and adapted his training of me accordingly. If I wasn't capable of meeting the requirements of the average male in the military, then I was nothing but a liability to the safety of the country. He knew that fact and became extremely harsh to push me to my limits. He was still a dick for every time he punished me when my squadmates blamed me for their shit though.

"I don't know," was my honest reply at the time.

"Well, for one; you are a woman. You're not as physically strong as a man, nor as emotionally stable, however after observing how you act, how you think. I've concluded that wasn't always the case, hmm?"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I quickly dismissed. He let out a chuckle in response.

"I won't pry into your past, but figuring out that little tidbit gave me enough information to deduce what your fears would inevitably become. Such as becoming a sex slave to the Orcs, a bride to a Felana chieftain, a breeder for the Elves, so on and so forth. By becoming a soldier, you can learn how to defend yourself. By learning how to fight, you'll never have to worry about being abused. Most woman who joins the Avalarian Knights does so to follow family traditions, to gain free schooling, to learn: Magic," he turned to look directly into my eyes, his head tilted, his voices full of wonder. I couldn't help but feel a little excitement at the prospect of learning actual magic.

"Not you. You want to become strong, to be the best that you can be, even though that wasn't your original goal. You want purpose beyond the confines of us mortals. To take destiny and destroy it. And that's something no Human, Elf, Orc, Dwarf, Felana, Neptari, or Valkyrie wants to achieve."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I couldn't help to ask. "I'm nothing special; just a guy who has a large string of bad luck. There isn't anything unique about me at all, and it doesn't explain why the others in my company treat me like shit."

"It's your eyes," he began mystically. "They're filled with Twilight. Where I'm from, such eyes are both loved and feared...mostly because Twilight is associated with magic. It symbolizes power, mystery, wisdom, and intelligence. Those eyes tell me that your special, Cinder. As for the "why" your fellow soldiers treat you like shit?" he stopped to let out a sigh with a dark glare forming on his face. "I expected them to help you, especially after that Elf sabotaged your gear. But it appears that they think they're above everyone else."

"In any case, he will be punished accordingly once we've returned to the base, along with the rest of the company. After which, I'll be transferring you to the 1st Mage Batallion Dragon Company. There, hopefully, you will be treated with respect and learn how to use the Magic within you."

After our little talk, he gave me his tent for the night. Well, when I mean he "gave" me his tent. He really just shared it with me. It was...Nice. Sure, it was really awkward when I woke up in Tiffiny's arms, snuggling his fluffy, muscular, chest, but at least I didn't get sick from sleeping in the rain. Also, Vel'Suki ripped apart anyone that made a comment about me leaving his tent in the morning, which was funny to watch. Especially when Tiff pointed out all the people who also shared a tent, but for completely different reasons entirely.

I bet the scent of sex made everyone a little self-conscious. Though, I have to wonder. What were you to Vel'Suki? You know, before Sofia?

"Close."

"Just, close?"

"He was going to be my first and only husband."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's in the past, and I'll always remember our time together...Even the shit he caused me during basic training."