Page 8 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

Am I really to never kill a demon again?

I sigh and wipe the moisture from my lashes with the back of my hand.

I know he thinks this is what’s best for me. But he doesn’tknowwhat’s best for me.

Unless…

I bite my lip as a barrage of ideas inundates my mind.

He will never give his consent beforehand. But what if it’s an accomplished fact?

Without regard for the consequences, I go to my closet and pull out my uniform.

TWO

The two sunsare slowly rising into the sky as I surreptitiously make my way outside the palace. Shielding my energy signature, I take the staff exit so no one can spot me.

With a little luck, my parents won’t notice my absence until midday, at which point I should have already left Aperion.

If all works out, that is.

Kai may not have given me too many details about this mission of his, but it’s standard practice for the regiment to meet with Commander Azerius before a mission to get direct orders.

Once I’m out of the palace, I leave the premises on foot until I’m sure I am outside the range of the protective runes of the place. Even if I hide my energy signature, if I teleport while on my family’s land, they will know.

The staff who awoke with the dawn, ready to start the day’s chores, pass by me without recognizing me.

A smile pulls at my lips. It seems like my disguise worked.

I styled my long hair in a bun and hid it under a black nondescript hat. I put on an old pair of dark gray pants and a loose woolen jacket to make it seem like I’m a street urchin. I also went through the pain of binding my breast to ensure no one can tell I’m a female.

Swinging my small bag containing my military uniform over my shoulder, I double-check to make sure I’m off my family’s land before I teleport to the Center for Military Advancement—the official building that houses all the send-off events for missions.

Getting inside the building is easy. For a military building, the security is quite lax. I go in search of a restroom to change into my uniform and then look for the event room.

I let my shield down and expel a burst of energy fly from me as I let my hearing roam through the building, listening to all the chatter.

The moment I hear the wordAnthropa, I follow the source of the sound until I reach the designated room.

There are around fifty people inside. Eighty percent of them are male and only twenty percent are female. Despite the fact that the military is advertised as a free-for-all opportunity, there is still quite a disparity between the numbers of males and females.

It all comes down to ability and spiritual energy. Like me, a lot of high-ranking females are expected to marry well and are seldom given the opportunity to hone their abilities. The ones currently in the military are largely young females who have not yet been forced to abandon their vocation for a mate.

Unfortunately, most of themwillbe forced to quit at some point.

I’ve yet to meet an older female who’s made her profession her priority, mostly because it’s not always up to them. If they have a living family, best believe that they will be forced to give up their career dreams sooner or later.

Years ago, I did not think this would be me. In fact, I had resolved to be the exception.

The first female general.

Little did I realize that it would not be up to me any more than it is up to the other females.

Would I be able to refuse the marriage and run away? Yes, of course.

But then my family would disown me and I would be branded a disgrace. No one in Aperion would look kindly on me, and the military would categoricallynotaccept me anymore.

After all, family is the most valued thing for Aperites. And if you’re willing to betray your family, who is to say you will not betray your realm, too?

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