We enter the office together, welcomed by the sight of the big man himself, sitting at his desk.
"Oh, it's Rigel, is it?"
I confirm his uncertainty with a nod.
"Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure. After all, there's a lot of faces and names for me to memorize here."
He chuckles a bit, then corrects himself and returns to proper posture.
This old man, he is really casual about everything, huh? I'm not gonna get my hopes up for everyone else high ranking simply due to one man's laxness.
"So, as I've promised, I've assigned you a sword tutor. I'll introduce the two of you."
Wait!
"Oh, before that, I wanted to know about my position in the army, my wages, and other official things. Just to clarify as much as possible."
"Well, I suppose I'll tell you my thoughts on the matter right now. I want to delegate you to the technical ranks, but I'm not sure where. It's clear that you're combat potential is much greater than any one of us here, so putting you on the front lines seems like a waste."
"I see what you're saying, and to be honest, it seems like a great idea to be inserted right into the middle of the hierarchy, but there's an issue. I wouldn't actually be part of the hierarchy, really, so there's no room for promotion. I also have nothing to worry about when it comes to dying. It'll take much more than swords to successfully injure me, if I'm not being too arrogant, sir."
A ballsy move, but I've judged this man to not be strict enough to care.
"Ha, we'll see about that, boy. How about I personally wail on you until I get tired, with my best sword at that? Do you accept such a proposition? Or are you scared?"
Woah, he didn't like that. His demeanor instantly turned harsh. I think he believes I'm looking down on him.
"Well, sir, I have no reason to decline as I haven't lied."
He doesn't respond and makes his way out to the courtyard with Elric and me in tow. Elric has been ghastly with dread since the commander's mood fell from the sky.
I stand in the middle of the main arena, facing my opponent the commander. The peanut gallery is enfolding us, gawking at such a matchup.
"Hey, isn't the commander being awfully harsh on the newbie?"
"Isn't that the kid who beat Stephen yesterday?"
"Woah, no way? A rookie beat Stephen?"
Please shut up, fools. I'm busy thinking of a way to beat this man unarmed. I don't think I'll be able to, perhaps I should try just staying on my feet and seeing how it turns out. He shouldn't be able to hurt me, but the thought of a muscular man coming at me when I'm unarmed holding nothing back is scary. Terrifying, perhaps.
The commander bursts off the ground toward me with no warning, sword held with both hands. I freak out and inadvertently yelp and run away. I feel a strong force hit the back of my head, and I slam my face into the ground since I didn't have time to put my hands up to protect myself. Before I can even move, he kicks me hard in the gut and I fly into the crowd.
Oh, fuck. Jesus Christ, just give me a second to relax here.
Multiple people push me back into the sparring area. The commander awaits me, taking a pose that makes him look careless. I muster up some courage from the depths of my measly heart and force my body to take as many steps as it can towards him. He follows suit, and takes 2 giant strides, bringing himself right in front of me. I jump into the air in an attempt to flying drop kick him, but he manages to stop on a dime, grab me by my right leg, and swing my flailing body straight into the ground with enough force to normally kill someone. I feel my body bend in extremely unnatural ways, but the amount of pain felt stays consistently nonexistent.
I don't get up out of sheer shock, and stay lying down on the rugged dirt.
"Do you have mana exhaustion already?"
Hmm? Mana? Oh, yes, I suppose this is a fantasy world after all. The commander threw me off for a second, but I need to step up my game. Sass, perhaps?
"Oh, no. I'm just a bit traumatized, that's all."
I get up onto my feet and look the commander square in the eyes. He punches me in the face before I can react and I end up in the dirt again.
Let's continue with an obvious change of the pace.
"You know, I hope you'll compensate me for these nice clothes you've ruined, sir."
I actually am a bit sad that these clothes are ruined. Then again, forgetting my old life might be for the best.
The commander heeds my taunts no mind and continues to beat me down for a while. I manage to land a total of 2 hits on him before he gives up out of exhaustion. By now, most of the crowd remained just to see if I'd ever break, but most of them look bored.
"I see that your words were not born of conceit. It's very possible that nothing on the battlefield could kill you right now. I accept your request and assign you the rank of recruit. However, you'll be working directly under me without a squad."
Interesting. A perilous task has been handed to me, and yet, I'm excited by this riveting future that awaits me. A true feat of strength is required to overcome this hurdle, etcetera. With this, I can stand out with my achievements.
I have no plans on being humble. Just now, I've decided. In order to assure that I'm able to become king in the time limit, it's a bit hard to not do this overtly. The plan I'll go with is to show unparalleled strength and recruit those who wish to join me.
"I graciously accept this esteemed position, sir."
"Good, report to me before breakfast tomorrow. I already have a mission for you. However, please train with the tutor I've arranged. He is the fort's most talented magician, and I'd like for you to learn a few things from him first."
--Eh?
"Excuse me, but I thought I would be getting a sword tutor, not a magic tutor."
"Of course. However, I have changed my mind. In terms of rapid learning of the basics, magic should be easier for you. It does depend on the person though…"
The commander looks down to the ground while musing, brows digging down into the bridge of his nose.
Perhaps he's already rethinking things?
"Well-"
Ah, he's continuing.
"I stand by my decision. You'll learn the fundamentals of magic with thiiiis man here."
He abruptly turns around, picks up a tall, skinny man like a toddler and brings the new face in front of me.
"This, is your tutor, Gilgamesh. He can tell you everything you need to know. Learn as much as you can today, and report back to me tomorrow. That fight took a large amount of time, so I best be heading back."
Gilgamesh solemnly bows his head to me, meanwhile, the commander disappears back into the building.
"As introduced, I am... Gilgamesh. I belong to the Fire School and can use a few of the most powerful spells currently. Like the commander said, I have to drill magic into you before tomorrow."
He rambles on unenthusiastically while looking down and playing with his hands.
I wonder, is he just shy? Probably, no, most definitely. Best not delve too deep into the inner works of my own mind, let alone others'. Oh shit he's still talking.
"And lastly, I thank you for your patronage."
Hmm, patronage? I suppose he's assuming I'm gonna join up with the fire school. Well, I guess I will, but I plan on mastering all the schools' magic, obviously. It wouldn't be a fun immortal life without a surplus of magic to learn after all.
"Yeah, no problem. About the whole magic thing, despite me being able to harden my defense, I don't know how to do it. Like, it's just reflex. Can you explain basically everything to me except the dead basics?"
That's a believable story. I think. I don't know if it's possible to use magic on reflex but hey, we'll see. I do feel bad for lying to everyone I've met so far, but it's a prerequisite for my great empire. I don't have a guilty conscious- yet.
"Oh, I was not aware that you were unfamiliar with the core of magic. This will be a troublesome task if that is the case…"
He trails off and starts muttering to himself. I barely caught the last part.
"Hey, no need to worry. I was informed about, well, everything but the actual spell casting. I'd like to learn how to manipulate mana."
Gilgamesh brightens up at my remark.
"Well, that's a bit better then what I thought you meant. It's a bit noisy here, follow me. I know a good place in solitude where you can focus easier."
It's true; the soldiers have resumed their sparring and the courtyard is infected with the pest that is sharp noises.
Elric is included in the uninterested soldiers, he appears to have partaken in the dissipating crowd.
I'm a bit put off by his disappearance. I'd at least like a "talk to you later" from him. Well, I'm intrigued by him, to say the least, so I'll find him again tomorrow if possible.
We go down the main entrance to the fort and follow a wide dirt trail for a couple hundred feet until I hear running water in the forest. Gilgamesh pushes into and through the brush for a couple of minutes with me in tow until we reach our destination.