Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby

Chapter 219: General Maximilian Veers

On the high table, the middle-aged man in a black uniform looked down at the cadets seated below. Four golden

stars gleamed on each epaulette, while a flaming red heart was displayed on the collar tabs. He was clean-

shaven, with a sharp jawline, pale skin flushed with a faint redness, and long, reddish-white hair flowing behind

his neck. A powerful aura seemed to radiate from him, pressing upon all around.

"Fire Dragon," Eleanor whispered under her breath.

Two protectors stood to his right and three officials to his left. His piercing gaze swept across the entire dining

hall, and for a moment it seemed as though everyone forgot how to breathe.

Then the man spoke. His voice boomed and echoed through the hall. "I am General Maximilian Veers,

commanding officer of the Academy's security force. | will be overseeing your discipline this term. | am also the

officer in charge of this dining hall. We shall be seeing one another a lot."

He paused before continuing. "On my right stand Colonel Richard Sharpe and Colonel Rudolph George. They will

be in direct contact with you. Their temporary office will be located on the ground floor of your dormitory, and

you may reach them at any time."

Turning his head slightly, he gestured to the three officials in white robes. "On my left are Dr. Simin Meydani, Dr.

Manuel Villacorta, and Dr. Alan Aragon. They are responsible for providing your meals throughout the term. Their

offices are adjacent to the kitchen here, accessible from outside. Any requests or complaints regarding food are

to be directed to them."

The hundred or so cadets studied the newly introduced officials in silence, trying to imprint their faces in

memory. After a measured pause, General Veers resumed, his voice carrying effortlessly to the farthest corners

of the hall... resonant, controlled, the voice of a man forged in command.

"Cadets," he said, "this hall is more than a place to eat. It is a place of order, of dignity, of representation. Here

you do not dine as individuals, but as cadets... as representatives of your race, and as members of this

Academy."

He let the words settle before pressing on. "You will sit as instructed, in your assigned seat at your assigned

table. Numbers are given to eliminate chaos... learn them, respect them. You will not lift so much as a fork until

the highest-ranking officer has begun their meal. When the meal begins, you will not rush. You need not fear

missing any dish; in this Academy, food is provided in exact proportion to the number of cadets at each table.

Should you encounter any shortage, raise your hand and a server will attend to you at once. You will have thirty

minutes for each of the three main meals, and ten minutes for each of the two snack times. Conduct yourselves

with restraint, with precision, and with decorum."

At a signal from his gloved hand, a projection shimmered into being above his head. A pair of stewards stepped

forward to demonstrate, laying down plates and cutlery with perfect precision. The General moved aside,

indicating the display behind him.

"Observe," he commanded. "The utensils are placed for reason, not ornament. You will use them in sequence,

beginning from the outside and working inward as courses are served. A fork is not a weapon, a knife or a toy.

Misconduct will be punished immediately."

His words were clipped but never harsh; it was the voice of a man for whom discipline was a language, and

etiquette its dialect.

When the projection faded, the General returned to his former place, hands clasped, eyes fixed upon the cadets.

"You will speak only in low tones at the table... never shouting across the hall. If you wish to address someone at

a distance, you will wait until after the meal. You will not leave your seat without permission. When addressed by

a superior, you will rise and answer clearly. Respect in this hall reflects respect beyond it. If you cannot govern

your tongue and manner here, you will not govern your will in life."

He allowed the silence to settle like a weight before concluding, with a curt nod, "I will be observing you from

here. So, cadets... behave. Whether you are rewarded or punished depends entirely on you. Dr. Simin Meydani,

the floor is yours."

General Maximilian Veers lowered himself onto the central chair at the high table. Dr. Simin Meydani remained

standing while the others took their seats.

As if on cue, servers entered in silence, bearing bowls and trays heaped with food. They placed the dishes at the

centre of each table and withdrew, only to return moments later with more. Within minutes the tables were laden

with a vast array of dishes, the servers departing as quietly as they had come.

Dr. Meydani drew a deep breath and spoke in a solemn voice, "We give thanks to Lord Yggdrasil, root and crown

of Midgard, whose branches shield us from harm and whose roots bind us to peace. Through His strength we

endure, through His shelter we prosper, and through His wisdom we glimpse a brighter tomorrow. With gratitude

in our hearts and discipline in our hands, we begin this meal together."

He then took his seat. The General and the officials at the high table began their meal in unison, and at that

signal the cadets followed.

Soon, the hall filled with the faint murmur of hushed voices and the delicate clink of cutlery. The food was

exquisite... worthy of surpassing even the most decorated Michelin-starred chefs... and the cadets, despite their

restraint, ate with undisguised eagerness.

Barely five minutes passed before the General's voice cut through the air. "Cadet 622... minus five points for

speaking loudly at the table. Cadet 635... minus ten points for using hands instead of utensils. Cadet 615...

minus five points for shouting at a server."

Every head turned instinctively towards him. He was now standing, hands clasped behind his back, posture rigid

as a blade. The hall fell into immediate silence. Only the faint scraping of cutlery remained... and even that

seemed subdued. The deductions continued, sharp and relentless, though gradually they grew fewer until, after

twenty minutes, they ceased altogether.

When the allotted thirty minutes had passed, the General spoke again. "Those who obeyed the instructions and

incurred no punishment will be awarded ten points. Remember this lesson well. | will return to this hall whenever

| choose, and on those occasions the penalties will be far harsher."

Dr. Meydani rose, announcing the end of dinner. The five officials filed out, following in the General's wake.

Only once they had departed did the cadets rise from their seats. No one dared whisper. Intimidation clung to

the air like a heavy cloak.

Outside the hall, Eleanor regrouped

with her companions, including the

two members of the Amazon Clan.

Nora reported that SONG been

2 . ,

arnted epppias J eanor’s

ukgin; he others checked and found

the same. Relieved, the group hurried

back to their rooms. Before parting,

Eleanor reminded them to finish the

guidebook before sleep... it had

already helped them to avoid

punishment once, and might do so

again. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

ork

Early the next morning, Eleanor was woken by the shrill sound of the compulsory alarm. She knew it was half-

past five, and with assembly on the parade ground at six, she needed to hurry.

She went to the bathroom, washed, tied her hair back into a ponytail, and dressed in the green tracksuit

prescribed for morning parade. The previous night, after returning from the dining hall, she had discovered a

neatly folded stack of clothing laid out on her bed. On trying them, she had found every piece fitted her

perfectly... even the undergarments, which clung to her like a second skin.

The tracksuit cwith a hood, which she drew over her head before leaving her room. Hearing movement in

Maira’s room, she sensed the young girl was also preparing, but Eleanor did not wait; she went straight down the

stairs.

The parade ground lay just across

the road from the dormitory. By the

tshe arrived, several cadets were

already standing in three lines, five

ILE ERE Men nb Cy tracksuits

werk moving along the rows,

correcting stances and asking to call

themselves sergeants. At the head of

the ground, Eleanor spotted a familiar

figure standing apart, observing the

cadets... Colonel Richard Sharpe, also

clad in black, identical to the

, q

sergeants’ wear. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Once the flow of cadets from the dormitory had ceased, the sergeants checked their watches, adjusted the lines

one final time, and then formed an even row of their own in front of the cadets. The central sergeant marched

forward to Colonel Sharpe, saluted, and reported that all were present.

Receiving permission, he turned

smartly back, faced the cadets, and

[1 2

shouted, "Cadets! The sergeants will

lead you on a run around the track:

, : O

The Aedes

medsur fo kilometres per round.

Today, you will complete six

kilometres. You are to keep your lines

intact. Anyone who breaks formation

will be punished. Should you fall ill,

inform the sergeant beside you. Do

not worry... the Academy healers will

attend immediately. The infirmary is

: I"

located beside the track." The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

With that, he pivoted, jogged towards the roadside end of the line, and set the contingent in motion. The cadets

began to run, three lines moving as one, running shoes striking the ground in measured rhythm.