NovelXXXChapter 340 A single, decidedly unflattering comment left Hastings blushing in an instant.
Citrine's laughter was dazzling, and for a moment, Hastings couldn't tear his eyes away. By the the realized he was staring, even the tips of his ears had turned pink.
The room erupted into applause for him.
"Captain, you're incredible!" someone called out.
Noticing the growing flush in his cheeks, another teammate nudged closer. "Hey, Captain, are you coming down with something? Your face is bright red." "Even your ears are red!" another chimed in.
"Oh, cut it out," Hastings shot back, pushing them away.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAlmost reflexively, he turned to look straight at Citrine.
She was watching him too.
Citrine wasn't naive-in fact, she was sharp as a tack, always attuned to people's moods. Now, she gave Hastings a subtle, knowing smile.
He was about to smile back when, out of nowhere, Citrine quipped, "Hopeless." Hastings's would-be smile vanished in an instant, but the color in his ears only deepened.
Citrine lost interest and moved on, shifting her focus to put each team member through a round of one-on-one training.
With her guidance, everyone made noticeable progress in their specialties.
After the special training sessions, Citrine organized a series of simulated military drills, helping the team adapt ahead of time.
At the end of each exercise, she would break down the tactics used by both sides, analyzing strategies and counter-strategies. She'd even explain what she might have done if she were the enemy.
By the end of the month, the real combat drill against the Magnolia squad was about to begin.
On their final day of preparation, Citrine stood before the group-not mocking, not aloof, but genuinely focused. She gave everyone a thumbs-up.
With unreserved praise, she said, "You've all done an outstanding job these past weeks." Despite her past clashes with Hastings, and despite the team's initial resentment, in this moment, Citrine saw them all as true defenders of their homeland.
Her words left the soldiers with stinging eyes. Somehow, all the exhaustion and hardship suddenly felt worthwhile.
"Thank you, instructor," someone said quietly.
"If it weren't for you, we'd never have pushed past our limits," another added. "You brought out the best in us." Though Citrine had pushed them hard-sometimes to the point of breaking, sometimes calling them useless they all knew, deep down, there was a reason for everything she did.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmUnder her training, everyone's skills had sharpened, and their temperaments had steadied. Hastings, especially, had grown into the role of a true commander.
It was during the grueling drills that Hastings finally understood Citrine's intentions. He felt a pang of guilt for having once thought she was merely tormenting him for the fun of it. Now, as the team exchanged glances, Citrine's lips curled into a rare smile.
A moment later, she looked at them, her expression turning solemn.
"Today, we're skipping drills. I want to teach you semergency first aid. Learn it well it could save your life one day." With that, Citrine began explaining how to handle injuries in various battlefield scenarios.
She spoke with care, and the team listened intently.
As members of the Vermillion Vanguard, they weren't afraid of death, but Citrine's earnestness struck a chord with all of them. When she finished, Citrine looked over the group, her voice gentle for once.
"Remember, no matter what, you fight to stay alive. Your lives matter-not just to your country, but to your families." Moved, the team responded in unison, "Yes, ma'am! We promise we'll make it back alive."
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