A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 213: The Training Base
Chapter 213: The Training Base

Kellan had another task lined up, so after escorting Arix and the others to the cafeteria on the military ship, he left with an adjutant who came to fetch him.

Once Kellan was gone, Arix and the group headed to the buffet, picking out whatever caught their eye.

On everyone’s plate, only Arix had a balanced mix of vegetables, meat, and fruit. The others, though, were all about the meat, piling their plates high with different kinds of roasted meats.

Even Deanna, who usually seemed delicate, had a mountain of meat on her plate.

As they settled into their seats, everyone couldn’t help but notice how little food Arix had on her plate—barely enough to satisfy a light eater.

”Arix, you’re not hungry?” Deanna asked, sounding a bit worried.

Marceau also noticed Arix’s sparse plate. It was so little that it wouldn’t have even filled Deanna up when she was a kid. This made Marceau concerned about his new cousin.

”Nah, this is just right for me,” Arix replied with a smile, shaking her head. She had been a fitness fanatic in her past life, so she was used to keeping her diet in check.

Even though they were in a high-tech era where people didn’t have to worry about overeating, she didn’t see a reason to change her habits.

Deanna didn’t press further, but she marveled at how little food Arix had. If someone had served her that tiny portion for lunch, she would’ve felt seriously wronged—like someone was punishing her for nothing.

Drexel, on the other hand, was used to his sister’s small appetite. Still, it didn’t sit well with him to see Arix eating so little. Especially when he noticed that Deanna’s plate had as much meat as his did, he felt that Arix should be eating more too. But he knew change takes time, and getting someone to eat more is a slow process.

So, without giving Arix a chance to protest, Drexel picked up a big piece of roasted meat from his plate and plopped it onto hers. His expression was serious, like he was laying down the law, and he said in a firm tone, ”Eat it. If you can’t finish it, I’ll help.”

Arix glanced down at the huge chunk of meat now sitting on her plate, enough for an entire meal, and then she stared up at Drexel’s determined face. She decided not to argue and quietly nodded in agreement.

Satisfied that Arix didn’t put up a fight, Drexel gave a content nod and then eagerly dug back into his own food.

As they were wrapping up their meal, the conversation shifted to the upcoming special training.

”Drexel, since your family’s very well-connected with the army, you must know what to expect at the training base, right? Can you fill us in?” Deanna asked, her cautious nature prompting her to gather some intel beforehand.

”Cousin Deanna,” Drexel began, not directly answering the question but instead slipping into big-brother mode, ”according to family hierarchy, you should be calling me ’Cousin Drexel.’ Plus, legally and officially, you and Marceau are now the kids of Uncle Marlone, so your family is now very well-connected with the army, too.”

It sounded like a lecture, but Deanna knew Drexel was saying this because he genuinely accepted her and Marceau as part of his family. Even though his words touched her, she still put on a reluctant face and sighed, ”Alright, Cousin Drexel. Now, can you tell us about the training base?”

When Deanna called Drexel ”cousin,” his happiness was almost palpable. If he had a tail, it would’ve been wagging like crazy. Still, he knew he had to answer the question seriously.

Clearing his throat, Drexel got down to business. ”The special training base is exactly what it sounds like—a place where the legion selects and trains special forces soldiers. And let me tell you, it’s brutal. I don’t need to sugarcoat it because you can probably imagine how tough it’ll be. So, brace yourselves, both mentally and physically, for the next six months. It might make you feel like you’re better off dead,” Drexel said, recalling his brief visit to the base.

He knew firsthand just how intense the training was. Compared to that, everything they’d been through before would seem like a warm-up.

”Is it really that bad? Like, life and death bad?” Deanna asked, a bit shaken but still skeptical.

Drexel just shrugged, not bothering to convince her further. He was giving them a heads-up, and whether they believed him was up to them.

Arix quietly linked her arm with Deanna’s. Whether Drexel was exaggerating or not, his words definitely made them take the special training base more seriously. Even after Deanna and Arix returned to their quarters, it was still the main topic of conversation.

”Arix, do you really think the special training base is as scary as Drexel says?” Deanna asked, clinging to Arix’s arm as they walked down the warship’s corridor.

”You know how my brother is. His words are trustworthy, but not entirely,” Arix replied with a reassuring smile.

”True,” Deanna agreed, remembering how Drexel could be a bit unreliable at times. With that thought, her fear started to ease.

Arix, amused, covered her mouth as she laughed. Then, as if a thought had suddenly crossed her mind, she shot Deanna a mischievous grin. ”Deanna, didn’t you say you’d confess your feelings to Marceau after leaving Planet Void? Have you decided when to do it?”

The moment Arix brought it up, Deanna’s face turned bright red, all thoughts of the training base forgotten.

”Cough, cough, I’m still underage! It’s too early for that,” Deanna stammered, trying to cover her embarrassment with a cough.

”But didn’t you say you tell Marceau how you feel about him after leaving Planet Void?” Arix pressed, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

”That was because I thought it would take until I was in my twenties or thirties to be free! Now, if I confess, do you think he would accept it, or would he just run away from me?” Deanna said nervously, as if imagining the worst possible outcome.

Arix nodded, thinking Deanna had a point. But something about it seemed off.

’Are people in love really this... rational?’ Arix wondered, glancing suspiciously at Deanna. ’Is it that Deanna’s feelings for Marceau are more like those of a sibling than a romantic interest?’