The Empire of Reimia (3)

— Not at all — you’re not a coward or a traitor. I’m almost certain that many of our peers have had similar thoughts. Either that, or… — Neya smiled and put her hand on her comrade’s shoulder, — …or we’re both cowards and traitors. Because I’ve had similar thoughts too. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to worry my family. I don’t want to take human lives in the name of someone else’s ambitions. Perhaps this will sound very naive and foolish coming from a student at a military academy, but that’s not why I came here. So, Ifeon, you’re not alone in your feelings. But I know for sure that my parents won’t leave the empire, so I only have one option left — to go all the way, to go through the inevitable war and return home, alive and well.

— I don’t have any other options right now either, so I guess we’re in this together until the end. That’s why I had an idea the other day: what if we resumed our training, but changed its nature a little? If it comes to military action and we end up in the same squad, I could watch your back, and you could watch mine.

I’m doing what everyone else is doing.

The inspector checked the documents first for Bertrand, and then for Bervang. He looked closely at their faces, but said nothing unusual. After finishing the inspection, he wished them a pleasant journey.
Meanwhile, another passenger had a problem. Bert didn’t catch his name, and all he heard was the phrase “you are accused of betraying the interests of the empire.” In the end, he was ordered to get off the train, he refused, and then they forcibly dragged him away.
— You don’t understand anything! Rinze... Rinze will destroy this country!!
The violator’s cries were ignored, and he was taken away from the carriage. The passenger’s child and wife burst into tears, but remained in their seats.
— What should we do with them, sir?
— Nothing. Confiscate all suspicious documents you find, but don’t touch personal belongings.
After that, the incident ended, and the train started moving again.