Commandant Sher looked around the bustling building, scanning the faces before her eyes landed on a young man dressed in the standard constable uniform. "Robert!" she called out, her voice sharp but steady.
A man who appeared to be just a few years older than Cassian quickly approached, his muscular build suggesting that he had been through rigorous training, likely similar to Cassian's own regimen. His uniform clung tightly to his toned frame, indicating that he took his physical conditioning seriously.
"Yes, Commandant?" Robert asked as he stopped in front of the trio, standing at attention.
"Guide these two to the Special Unit's office and explain their duties. Make sure they understand what's expected of them," Sher ordered, her tone brokering no argument.
Robert nodded respectfully and turned to Cassian and Julius with a polite but slightly awkward smile. "Follow me," he said, gesturing for them to follow. The trio made their way through the crowded halls, weaving between noblemen, commoners, and law enforcement personnel alike.
As they walked, Cassian couldn't help but size up Robert. His well-built physique and confident stride indicated he had some level of combat training. Robert, however, seemed more interested in Julius. His eyes continuously flicked to the sword at Julius's waist, his expression lighting up with barely contained excitement.
Finally, as they neared the entrance to the Special Unit's office, Robert couldn't hold back any longer. "Excuse me," he began, glancing between Julius and the sword, "are you the swordmaster?" His smile widened, revealing the admiration he had been holding in. It was clear the title carried some weight with him.
Julius smirked, a bit of his usual pride shining through. "I suppose you could say that," he said with a casual wave, as if being a master swordsman were nothing special.
"Really?" Robert exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Does that mean we're finally getting a sword teacher? A lot of people are looking forward to having a swordmaster join the force!"
"Is that so?" Julius replied, feeling a mix of curiosity and skepticism as Robert's excitement fed into his narcissistic tendencies. Still, he maintained enough composure to say, "But I wasn't told anything about being a sword instructor.
I'm supposed to be a detective." He glanced at the introduction paper provided by his father-in-law, confirming that his duties were meant to focus on detective work. "Isn't a detective supposed to catch sneaky criminals and all that?"
"You will be doing that," Robert replied as they exited the building through a different path, leading to a wide road that confused Cassian. But he followed as Robert continued explaining. "However, warriors in our force have other responsibilities too. You, sir, will be both a sword instructor for the East Law Enforcement Department and a detective.
And just so you know, you can't refuse this duty— even Commandant Sher teaches combat classes twice a week."
Julius muttered angrily under his breath, "That old fogey really screwed me over..."
Cassian chuckled at his frustration before turning to Robert and asking, "What about me? I'm joining as a constable, right?"
"Cassian, right?" the man asked, to which Cassian nodded as Robert began explaining his duties. "You're joining at the same rank as me—a constable. If you were in a normal unit, you'd be patrolling the streets and handling basic tasks. But in the special unit, things are different."
As they crossed the street, they approached another building, smaller and quieter compared to the bustling ten-story one they had just left. This one had only a few floors and was far less crowded.
"Since it's your first day, your direct superiors will explain your duties," Robert continued. "But from what I can guess, Constable Cassian's job will mostly involve gathering information, writing reports, and doing minor tasks—way better than mine, at least." He finished with a look of envy.
Cassian glanced at Robert, noting the tinge of jealousy in his voice. He wasn't exactly thrilled about being stuck with menial tasks, but if it meant staying close to Lady Katherine's plans, he'd take it.
They entered the small building, and the atmosphere was completely different from the chaos outside. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and ink, the sound of pens scratching on parchment filling the silence. Only a few people were around, most of them seated at desks, scribbling away on reports or reading through documents.
A tall man in an officer's uniform glanced up from his work as they stepped inside.
"Ah, you must be the new recruits," he said, standing up and walking over. His eyes fell on Julius first, recognizing him from the briefings. "Julius Resaec, correct? I've heard about your skills." He then turned to Cassian, his gaze appraising. "And you must be Cassian Ven Dyke."
"That's right," Julius replied, his usual smirk returning. "We're here to figure out what we're supposed to be doing. Special unit duties and all."
The man chuckled lightly, nodding. "I'm Sergeant Halley. Your roles here will be a bit different from what you might expect. As Robert might've told you, this unit deals with the more... unique issues in the city." He gestured for them to follow, leading them down a narrow corridor toward what looked like a briefing room.
Halley continued as they walked, "Julius, your primary role will be instructing combat training for recruits. We're short on skilled swordsmen, and given your background, it's a perfect fit. But, you'll still be working investigations on the side. We don't waste talent here."
Julius raised an eyebrow. "Combat instructor and detective, huh? Well, I guess that's not so bad."
Halley smirked. "You'll get used to it. Now, Cassian," he said, glancing back at him, "your duties will be more intel-focused. We need people who can gather information without drawing attention. Most of your work will involve keeping tabs on certain figures in the city, writing up reports, and assisting with larger investigations. Think of yourself as our eyes and ears on the ground."
Cassian nodded slowly, processing the details. It wasn't what he had imagined, but it seemed manageable.
They reached the briefing room, where a large map of Magisteria covered the wall, dotted with pins and notes. Sergeant Halley turned to face them both. "The special unit operates on the front lines of keeping this city in check. You'll be dealing with everything from rogue mages to high-profile crimes. This isn't your average law enforcement gig, so stay sharp."