=================

After the events yesterday, a new day is here. And new more craziness waiting to happen. This time, Akashi is in Caster's office to talk about the "sci-fi lego blocks" that Caster was thinking about since yesterday.

At this point, Caster already explained his definition of "sci-fi lego blocks" to Akashi who sat there really confused since his explanation was very convoluted. It's not that rare for Caster to mess up explanations anyway. Akashi in no one's surprise, she kinda chuckled because the explanation was so bad.

But she knew what he was talking about. It's the:

"Wisdom Cubes," Akashi replied to Caster. "It's not the whatever you said earlier nya." With a trace of laughter within her tone. 

"Wisdom Cubes... At least I don't have to call it something that it isn't... What does it do?" 

"It can revive fallen ships nya." She answered in a simple, concise manner. But however, this wasn't enough for Caster. Actually, he was confused. 

'Revive?! Now, that's possible?! Now, that's a resource we could definitely use a lot of.' He stroked his chin... 

"Also nya, you told me to research the new weapons yesterday right?" 

"Yeah, what about it?" Caster asked.

"That has a fee." Akashi's face turned into a slightly greedy expression. 

In no one's surprise, Caster paid a price for the tech research. A steep one at that. Akashi assured Caster that the tech will be brought back to him in three days. Akashi excused herself since she has more business to do outside the office. And she left Caster there alone doing more reading.

The books he was plowing through was giving him more and more knowledge and about the ship classes that exists here. And so he isn't limited to only knowing Destroyers and Cruiser ships. Good for him.

But as he was about to finish a book about Essex-class ships, he was greeted by Belfast and came into the room looking like she needs something.

"Master, we need you in the cafeteria. It's a meeting..." Belfast bowed to Caster in which he stood up.

'Oh, how wonderful... I was about to finish the book.' He mentally groaned. 'What is it this time?' 

If you didn't know already, he was getting irritated by the sheer amount of disruption he has getting since the start of his tenure as Commander of Azur Lane. Every day was eventful, and him getting injured ALL THE TIME. It's no surprise he was getting very exhausted by it and his stress will only get worse if it keeps going.

Belfast escorted Caster to the cafeteria in which it was empty.

"Why the cafeteria empty?" Caster looked at Belfast.

"It's a meeting... I can assure you it won't be long, Master." Belfast helped Caster sit down on one of the seats. 

The two were alone in the cafeteria and Caster was getting confused and impatient at the same time. But after a little bit, Enterprise and Hornet came into the cafeteria and the 2 sat across from Caster. From what he had read, these two are included in the "Yorktown-class" Aircraft Carriers.

"Good afternoon you two..." Caster greeted the two and Belfast bowed to Enterprise and Hornet too.

"Good morning, Commander." Hornet nodded to Caster.

Enterprise, however, didn't respond to the greeting. Another silent girl... He really can't get any of the girls' attention even if he spells it out to them that he wants to talk. He already misunderstood one thing with the survey thing. Now, this misunderstanding now. 

'It really does seem that everyone is scared of me one way or another. I really don't know why.'  He scratched his head in absolute confusion.

But after a while and Caster just sitting around, The main attraction finally got here. Yorktown. She was escorted by Edinburgh. And one thing that Caster noticed, but didn't mention yesterday that Yorktown looked sick. Or injured or something. 

Yorktown came into the room carrying some books. In which he almost gravitated towards. But he needs to keep his childish instincts in check. So he sat there. With Belfast behind her. 

"Sorry for making you all wait..." Yorktown apologized and she smiled making everyone in the room apologize to her instead. 

She laid down the books on the table and she sat down just 2 seats away from Caster. 

In respect, Caster stood up from his seat and bowed to Yorktown. Yorktown isn't really prepared to do anything to the respectful gesture but she smiled and nodded. And Caster sat down. 

The other Yorktown-class girls were also surprised by the action. As legendary as Yorktown was, she got her fair share of respect from other ship girls but not to the point they were bowing to her like some royalty. But Caster did just that. And the fact he was a male contributed too. 

"Are we finally here to decide?" Hornet spoke up.

"Decide what exactly?" 

After that question, she immediately got nervous and a little fidgety and looked away from Caster. 

"Where's Juneau, sister?" Enterprise asked her big sister. 

"She's taking a nap..."

"Sorry to barge in rudely, does Ms. Yorktown here has some health problems?" said Caster in which Hornet responded:

"Yes. She was originally an Aircraft Carrier. But one time we were fighting off the Sirens, she was severely injured. Since you're my Commander now, I thought this would be the time to let you meet her." Hornet explained Yorktown's situation. 

"Already ahead of you... She apparently came to me... 2 days ago?" He tries to remember what day it was that Yorktown apparently came into the hospital to meet Caster himself.

"Is it true, sister?" Enterprise said asking Yorktown in which she nodded.

"Well, I got involved in a "survey" about him. And since I didn't know about him yet, I decided to see him myself." Yorktown turned to Caster.

He slightly cringed at the thought of the survey yesterday. He was appalled with the results but he's not a person to dip in the past too much.

"So, the point of the meeting. What is it?" Caster asked the whole room. And Yorktown answered.

"It's to discuss what can I do to help the fleet," Yorktown said. To everyone's surprise. "I can't be here doing nothing right?"

As per the information he got earlier, he knew that getting her into battle would be a really dumb, stupid, decision only an incompetent Commander would make. But as he was thinking about benching her, it didn't sound like a good idea either. Again, just like she said: "I can't be here doing nothing right?" 

Thinking of more options... He got the opportunity to look at the books. As Yorktown was literally inviting for Caster to take a look at the books. And as he looked at one of the books, his eyes widen. 

"Hamlet!? This is... One of the famous books in my world." Caster said. "How did it got here?"

"We don't really know. But what we know though is the books would get here by getting teleported in one of the islands here and some just get here by seeing them on the shorelines. What about it?" said Hornet.

"If I were to guess," interjected Yorktown. "I'd say that our worlds are close together. And sometimes it's really close that objects can also pass through." 

Caster wasn't some genius at physics, or good at understanding dimensional interference and interactions so he took her explanation at face value. 

"Have you read all of this?" Caster asked.

"Yes, all of them," she replied. "And there's a lot more books than I can read since I have a lot of time in my hands, given my situation." 

He got a bright idea from the look of the books. As the girls were just watched him.

"How about... A teacher?" He asked, smiled at Yorktown and she got surprised.

"A teacher?" She asked back.

"Well, I noticed as I was walking around the base earlier, I saw some kids running around. And I also assume that there's a school for those said kids right?" As he turned to Hornet and Enterprise.

"The kids would be preparing for school in the next 3 months," said Hornet. "But..."

"Then it's a done deal," said Caster. "I want you to become a teacher for the kids."

Everyone was genuinely surprised by the decision. But he had this aligned with the goal of getting something done without getting into battle. 

"I'll ask Akashi again to build a separate building specifically used for schooling kids, until then, you can use one of the empty rooms that are apparently abundant in the base. You and... Juneau?"

Yorktown nodded...

"She will be your aide helping the kids. Anyway, I'll be going now. More things to do." As Caster stood up. 

"Are you really okay with that?" Yorktown interjected and stopped Caster. "To be a teacher instead of a soldier?" 

He smiled and said "It's fine. Plus, I'm not just looking at the war. I'm looking also at the aftermath. The aftermath of a war is just as hard as the war itself. Correct?" In response, the girls nodded and Caster went back to his office to research more. And he was followed by Belfast.

=================

Two days have passed. Caster got to meet more of Royal Navy's girls and some of them joined and some Eagle Union ships too. It was looking good.

As a bonus, Akashi had a record of everyone. And it can include girls that recently joined the fleet. So, he knows who's ships joined his fleet. But he also paid a really steep price for it. And also for the communicator so that he can use to talk to the whole fleet. 

A-kun: Akashi getting that cash, gems, everything... 

And true to his word, the construction of a small school has been ongoing now and expected to be done in the next 3 days. And he said that the youngest members will only go to the school and not participating in any sorties (Caster finally knows what that means.) or mission alike.

And as he looked through the records of the girls, he only realized that he had a pretty decent fleet in terms of numbers. So he decides to make a schedule for all the girls to do. To make everything lively and everyone busy in the meantime. He also improved the living conditions, and he did small commissions and research to help with the development of the fleet. 

It was looking good... He made immediate changes and it was positive for the most part.

With the regards of the rare item called "Wisdom Cubes", and about the ability to revive something from the other side. The afterlife. But he didn't hear anyone dying yet inside the fleet and outside of the fleet. But that didn't stop him to see more into the subject. And he wants to harness it's the power of revival if someone gets an unfortunate death. 

=================

But we're done talking in the past. Caster is walking around the base again to get some exercise. And as he was overlooking the construction of the school, he looked to his left. A guy outside the fence. He felt uneasy at the sight. There was barbwire on the top of the fence and he wasn't really worried about the security. But the fact there's another guy when he saw nothing but girls made him more uneasy. He held his communicator. Ready to press the S.O.S button. 

He walks up to the guy. And he had familiar-looking clothes. He deduced that guy is wearing the same Commander uniform. He's the FORMER Commander of Azur Lane. Now, ousted. He did look rubbish. It was said that he was trying to get back here... He was disgusted by how the guy looked.

"Good morning. How can I help you today?" Caster as he was being polite in a sarcastic way. (Is that even possible?)

"You... You're just putting yourself under danger... You should turn back." The guy said.

Caster shook his head.

"You'll get killed by my "Masters"... You should save yourself from the destruction..." The guy started to move erratically. Snapping his head left and right. Creeping Caster out in the process.

And the guy finally looked up at him. He had lime-colored eyes. And he took a step back. Ready to press the S.O.S button.

"Since you're one of their lackeys, why not kill me now?" Taunted Caster. As he pressed the S.O.S button and the alarm went off the base. 

The girls immediately went out of their buildings looking for him. And he was not on the docks. At the backside of the base. They formed their weapons and kept looking for him.

"Back of the base. Get here ASAP." Caster said as he was ready to attack him.

The guy had a creepy laugh and had a sharp knife to cut over the fence and he took out his pistol and fired. And Caster dodged the attack and the second shot though, he wasn't so lucky. He got hit in the hip. Again. After a slight flinch, and a pained look on his face, he already got the guy to the ground and the girls finally got there and helped to stop him. 

After the encounter,  the girls finally decided he was too unstable and arrested him for trespassing private property. But Caster though, he was injured. He mentally kicked himself because he didn't go for a defensive stance instead of offensive. But to be honest, what defense can you make when a gun is pointed at you 5 feet away? 

He regretted that encounter and he readied himself because he is gonna get chastised by Belfast and probably Vestal now. He was praying, mumbling random stuff, and some of the girls heard the stuff he was saying and they are confused as hell on why he can't shut his mouth. 

Some of the girls though, like Enterprise, Illustrious, and FREAKING- I mean, Hood was still there at the scene. As the guy was arrested, he dropped a mysterious thing. A cube. A Wisdom Cube. But unlike the other cubes, it was white. The girls were confused about it since they didn't know what it is and what it does. So, to be in safekeeping, the 3 decided in consensus, let the Commander handle it with Hood since she also one of the most knowledgeable girls here. (Though Hood didn't know she is involved. But better to be safer.)

=================

Back to Caster... He wasn't chastised by Belfast, and to be honest, she seemed absent trying to help Caster. And Caster thinks she's angry at him. And who can blame her? He's even angry at HIMSELF. But Vestal though... She finally got inside the room and just looked at Caster. Up to this point, she had 2 days of rest. No one got hurt. It was a good 2 days. Then this happened. The look upon her face, the disappointment. But she knew it was her duty and she did it. 

Caster sighed heavily as Vestal was getting her tools to see what happened. And it got her attention in which she looked at him. And his face was showing regret. 

"You know what, I'm not going out of my office for a week..." Caster laughed even he was enduring pain in the process. 

Vestal breathes in and out. 

"Don't give me that. You're my Commander." Vestal walked up to Caster with the proper tools.

"I really do owe you a lot for patching me up. What can I do for a return?" Caster looked at her, slightly smiling.

"I'll keep that in mind for later. And I won't forget it." and Vestal followed with a sigh. As she was checking the wound on his hip.

=================

Caster was a Private. He just finished and came out alive of his first operation. But he wasn't conscious. Oh, no. He got knocked out by an AK-47 of the noggin. It wasn't severe. But slightly bad enough to take him out for a day.

The next day later, Caster is finally awake. And he's yawning and his vision was kinda blurry. He looked around, and the doctors said: "He's awake, he's awake." And after that, he saw his teacher who looked at him with worry and said:

"Oh, look who got knocked out by not paying attention..." His teacher jokingly said because his comrades report that Caster was knocked out because he was hiding and took too much time thinking. Thus, getting him knocked out by an AK.

"I'm sorry... Plus, this head injury isn't much to worry about. It's just a minor scratch, I'm fine." Caster said trying to convince himself and his teacher that he is fine. 

His teacher just shook his head in disappointment. And Caster looked down on his hand in slight regret. And he was ready to get bombarded with confidence-breaking words from him. But his teacher just looked at him and said the following quote. A quote that will be important later.

"One head injury may not look bad, but remember, this is war. You're putting your whole body on the line. And the longer you go, the injuries will keep piling up on you like dead bodies stacked on top of one another." 

Caster didn't respond because of the truthfulness of the quote and the fact he was creeped out by the dark analogy that his teacher just brought up. But he got the memo nonetheless.

=================

Caster got minimal punishment by his irrational actions and he was discharged off the hospital 3 hours later. 

But now, he was in his office with Hood talking about the mysterious white Wisdom Cube. In which it was just lying there on the table and just floating. It would seem that the cube won't fall on the ground.  

Since they got nothing much to talk about the cube, their conversation turned into a friendly chat. It seemed that Hood and Caster forgot about their positions in the fleet. And just talked like normal people.  And it was fun. 

The conversation was transitioning about dreams. They were 3 minutes on that specific topic but they didn't notice that the white Wisdom Cube was glowing. But in really bizarre fashion. It would only glow or respond to the word "Dreams."

"Um, Commander?" Hood gestured at Caster to look behind him.

He looked around and saw the cube wasn't glowing. But then Hood said "dreams". And the cube glowed. In curiosity, he stood up and walked to the cube...

But then a gleam of light engulfed the whole room and both of them were closing their eyes. But as the light faded. Hood opened her eyes once more...

He was gone.

Word Count: 3140 Words.

12:18 AM
4/12/20