Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 974

"I was tied up with work. I couldn't get away,"

the officer replied.

York turned to Mira. "This is Callum Young. You two met back at Aethelgard University."

Mira remembered him. He was the instructor who was always hanging around York during the orientation.

"Hello, Callum. Nice to see you again."

"Oh, please, I'm not your instructor anymore. Just call me Callum."

"Trying to pull rank on familiarity, are we? I didn't even ask Miss Mercer to call me by my first name, and you expect her to?"

York scoffed, then turned to Mira. "Just call him Commander Young."

"Are you both commanders?"

"I'm the Battalion Commander, he's the Deputy,"

York said, looking rather smug.

"You're just one rank higher than me. What are you so proud of?

I might surpass you soon."

"Soon? I'll always be a step above you."

Mira watched their banter with amusement. "I'll just call you both Commander."

'Instructor' felt out of place here, and calling them by their first names felt a bit too familiar.

"I'll take you to the dorms first to get settled,"

York said.

"Thanks, Commander Vance."

Beside them, Callum rolled his eyes inwardly. Does a Battalion Commander really need to personally escort her to the dorms? Couldn't he just assign a private to do it?

"Isn't calling me Commander a bit too formal?"

York asked as they walked.

"We do have some history, after all,"

Mira mused. "How about I stick with Instructor Vance? Or maybe Mr. Vance?"

They silently agreed on 'Instructor Vance.'

Passing a guard post, Mira noticed a sentry standing ramrod straight, his rifle gleaming coldly in the sunlight, forming a uniquely striking sight.

"Yep! She's the famous Boss Mercer. Pretty awesome student to have, right?"

"Pfft. Your student being awesome doesn't make you awesome. What are you gloating for?"

"When the student excels, it reflects well on the teacher, obviously."

"Whatever. Come with me,"

Winifred said, clearly unimpressed by York's boasting.

As Mira followed Winifred into the courtyard, York called out after them, "Hey! Take good care of my student! Get her two sets of loose fatigues and sort her out with whatever else she needs!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ignoring you. The louder you yell, the less I care!"

Winifred shot back stubbornly.

Realizing she wouldn't be here long, Mira turned back to York. "Instructor Vance, if you're not busy, just wait here. I'll drop my things off and come right back out.

Then we can start shooting practice."

The sky was still bright, and time was of the essence.

York thought for a second.

"Alright. We can start now. Go settle in; I'll get things set up.