[center][h3][u][color=firebrick]Cerylia[/color][/u][/h3]


The sound of heels clacking against the ground echoed through the walls heavy and loud. These were footsteps with purpose, and was a telltale sign for recruits or simple guards to snap back to attention, lest the Ice Queen unleash hell with an onslaught of verbal beat downs, if they were so lucky. Cerylia Selwyn knew what they said about her, of course, but thought little of it. What did it matter what they called her out of earshot so long as they addressed her properly when in drills or in her presence; there was a reason her officer's stripes were so prominently displayed on her uniform. She earned that, not through sucking up or manipulations, but from effort and hard work, the same effort she has come to expect from any recruit looking to make a name for themselves in this army. 

No one made it to the Elite without going through her, but the ones that survived the journey were all the stronger for it. And so, in turn, was the Imperium. 

Today was an important day. It wasn't every day that fresh blood arrived and Cerylia liked to get an early appraisal of any and all new members of the army. Though she doubted it, there was always that chance that one or more of the wide eyed idealists would find themselves under her direct supervision. But even the ones that aimed for considerably lower positions would not be spared an introduction to the Ice Queen. 

Cerylia entered the 86 Division barracks, slamming the door as she did so. The fresh arrivals scattered to stand at attention as soon as they saw the presence of the uniform and the narrowed brow; her reputation, it seemed, had preceded her. She didn't speak as she entered, her hands clasped tight behind her back, but her eyes were observing. Cerylia shook her head as she passed the first rookie, his uniform had a wrinkle. She scoffed as she passed the second, the boots were scuffed. By the time she reached the end of the first row she was absolutely scowling. 

[color=firebrick]"Some of you seem to not understand where you are,"[/color] she spoke, her voice harsh but proper in its inflections, [color=firebrick]"Some of you think that the uniform policy is optional. Some of you think that just because you're raw recruits that you get special treatment. Get any such thoughts out of your thickheaded skulls or so help me I will do so by force."[/color] Cerylia could hear the gulps of the panicked recruits wondering what they had truly gotten into. [color=firebrick]"Each one of you have five minutes to give me fifty military standard pushups. If one person does not keep up with the cadence, everyone will start over. If someone does not perform to standard, everyone will start over. If fifty is not achieved, then your punishment is laps around the quad. Do not even THINK of cheating. I will see it. Now...drop....start."[/color]

Cerylia continued to pace in the barracks, keeping an ever watchful eye on the recruits. [color=firebrick]"Too slow, start again."[/color] One recruit with his uniform untucked had lagged behind on the tenth one. [color=firebrick]"Too slow, start again."[/color] Another hadn't been able to push themselves back up. [color=firebrick]"No groaning. Start again."[/color]

Some might have argued her methods, but in Cerylia's mind it was simple. If she could do it, they should be expected to do it as well.[/center]