Once I arrived at the militia training grounds. I received a uniform, cot, assigned sleeping quarters with a rule book of proper etiquette militia rank and regulations. They also gave me orders to report to my new quarters and change into my uniform. I did as I was told and made my way to my quarters. As I looked over the training grounds which consisted of tents, large stone buildings and a few wood storage sheds.
The locale was a flat grass plain that surrounded the militia training grounds. I looked over the uniform they gave me, a drab brown long sleeved shirt and pants with a belt that you tie around your waist. Looks like they expect us to get dirt covered and don't want it to show. I arrived at my quarters and found only one person inside.
She was around my age but taller than I was. She had a red scorpion tail with white stripes, white hair with black stripes and a tan complexion. She was already dressed in the new uniform and turned around to face me. I saw her amber cat eyes look at me skeptically. I am going to be in quite a predicament.
"I am assigned here to be and I can get proof if necessary," I assured her.
"I don't doubt you being assigned here, but what's a pretty boy like you doing here?" She rebutteled.
"Calamity," I answered her plainly, putting my stuff on my cot.
"Should have seen that one coming, I'm Mallory but call me Mal," Mal scoffed then introduced herself.
"Shard," I returned in kind.
"I suggest you change quickly Shard before the rest arrive," Mal suggested, turning around giving me a sense of privacy.
I quickly changed into my uniform and packed up everything I wasn't going to be using. After that Mal decided to resume our conversation.
"So pretty boy, I have to ask you but you wouldn't happen to be a dweller drake would you?" Mal asked curiously.
"I am dweller drake, is there an issue?" I answered then asked skeptically.
"None from me, it's just dweller drake scales are usually gray or brown and then we have you pretty boy," Mal explained.
"Do I really look like a pretty boy to you?" I dared to ask.
"Yes," Mal laughed.
I just shook my head in disbelief, I'm basically letting her get away with it. Eventually the rest of our posse joined us and changed into their uniforms. There were six of us in total including me. We had Bruno a fallen angel, Keller an abyssal drake with blue scales, Saga a kobold with green scales and Tracey a drider. All of us were about to start training and suffering together.
We would come to learn that the first six months were dedicated to life skills. Learning how to obey and physical training/discipline. My group would have the horror of being trained by Fang, a red orc militia legend. Fang became a legend in the militalia by fighting on the front lines during the calamity. The fact he survived and kept fighting until only he was left standing, astounds everyone.
He explained to us that we are raw metal veins. Pretty to look at and completely useless in any immediate action. The first thing we learned is that the rule book we were given is sacred and we will learn it. The rules were clear, experience and rank will be respected. We are the sword and shield of the people, if we fail they die. Orders are law, but if the order is not possible to carry out you can deny that order.
Fang started us with life skills which were a mix of survivalist, hunting, cooking, herbalism, salvaging, crafting and stealing. He also had us read aloud the rule book at timed intervals. These were dubbed the worst days. We were always given these training sessions after grueling workout routines. I made the mistake of demanding a break so we could accomplish the training properly. I got chewed out in a matter I will never repeat, needless to say I never complained again.
Our workout routine was a gauntlet; running, crawling under thorn bushes, and push-ups. The unique things were, water barrel carry. Carrying an empty barrel of water then bringing back a full one three times. Trench digging, given only hand tools to dig with. The worst of them was injury retreat. Fang would tie our limbs with a branch or together, then make us run away from him with limitations. If he caught you, he made you feel like you betrayed everyone with a relentless scolding.
Survivalists, hunting, cooking, herbalism and salvaging bleed together. Fang made sure each of us were self sufficient and never dead weight. I had a knack for cooking and salvaging, not so much on the hunting, survivalist and herbalism. I had passable skills at best for the latter. The best way to describe it would be I struggled to hunt small game. Adapting to rocky terrain and building proper shelter. Not to mention my poor eyesight made it very difficult to find useful items that were hidden. I was fortunate that I needed a passable skills minimum to proceed further for Fang.
My comrades in training excelled and struggled in their own areas. Mal and Tracey could hunt, salvage and survive but struggled with cooking and herbalism. Bruno could hunt and salvage but was an awful cook and struggled with the rest. Keller struggled with the same things as I did. Saga out us all to shame by only struggling with herbalism.
The physical training/discipline mostly consisted of us building cardio and our core endurance. We had been broken down and built up at least three times. To add insult to injury, we also had the rules and etiquette instilled in us during training. We had to repeat everything Fang said about the rules while we did our core endurance training. We accomplished the basics in six months as planned.
The next six months were spent on maintaining what we learned and basic combat training. We learned how to strike, how to defend and most importantly proper form. Everything they taught us about fighting were the essentials and foundations we will need. Fang wasn't a poet and sure as hell was a hard ass. He did however read one philosophy he made all of us remember.
"We are lost in one way or another and yet it is a shame to see those who fall off the path, never leave them to be," Fang recited.
That was the only time I ever saw Fang be wise and experienced without the grit. I don't know why, but the philosophy from Fang struck a note. It resonated with me in a bizarre way. Had I lost my way when the calamity hit, or was it when I arrived in this world? If so, did I return to wandering or simply got up to try again?
Maintaining contact and balancing everything else in my life, seemed to be more complicated now. While I replied to those that wrote to me, I was restricted on what I could write about my experiences. The militia training methods were not a public domain knowledge readily available. I only replied to everyone that training pushed my limits and I learned how not to be dead weight. I may have been restricted in my replies but I also didn't have it me to tell everyone what I endured.
The first year I thought was the worst, I have never been so more wrong. The second year had all of us advance in combat training. Begin the next level of magic studies and maintain all of our life skills from the first year. I would be tested again to see where I go in the magic tree. It would reveal that I was a specialist, I am capable of using nature magic, but only for plant life.
I had nothing on wild life animals nor anything related to them. That also meant getting a modified version of the book containing the specialist studies. It mostly emphasized that I had to get creative on what I could do. No matter how small the development may seem, everything matters in the long run. It would be easier if we didn't have advanced combat training.
The spell book was a militia version designed for the user to apply during combat. While high cast speeds are more practical. They are also the weakest. If you take the time to chant they do maximum damage. Speed takes away from power and vice versa, which makes sense.
Speaking of magic, the test they concocted to determine if you are an advanced or specialist is simple. Twenty randomly assigned chants from common level will be assigned to you. Then you have to complete all twenty on the first try. In my case I did all twenty with nine successes, one incomplete and ten failures. The ten failures had nothing happen.
My incompleteness halfway through spent all my energy I had for magic. Instantly collapsing and blacking out for three days was a terrifying experience. I would learn that I exhausted my Aether reserve. The limitation and life blood of all magic users. The test revealed that I was a specialist in nature magic.
I could only manipulate plant life and had no access to the other half. Which means I can't access magical beasts, animals nor use traditional healing magic. Our combat training took all learned from basic and showed us how to apply the most damage. We had to learn vital points, joint manipulation, major veins and arteries locations with nerve clusters. In general we had to learn how to be vicious and hesitation free.
We had in a sense been pushed beyond a line we didn't think possible to cross. My group shockingly hadn't shrunk by one member. Everyone was still here and Fang still kicked our asses. It's astounding how after all the blood, sweat and tears you shed with others. You forge a bond with them. Mal, Bruno, Saga, Keller and Tracey knew exactly what I endured, I also knew what they endured.
This oddly enough was the only reprieve we had. When it came to writing back to everyone, it was stressful and heavily monitored. The training methods of the militia were not public domain knowledge. I wasn't allowed to explain what they taught me in combat nor the exercises. I was however allowed to talk about life skills training.
After they inspect your letter and approve it, the postmaster can receive it. Most of my letters are me giving everyone the I'm still alive update. Little Hammer suggested that I get more life skills in my repertoire. Cecilia wanted to know if I received any kind of magical studies. As for everyone else they sent me an occasional care package.
Aside from my modified studies, my group had to compete in a game the militia uses to teach teamwork. A game of capture the flag with hide and seek like rules added to the mix. We can't be seen with the flag, opposing teams can capture you and your out of the game. Another rule we had to abide by was no combat nor magic allowed. We always had to capture the flag, since Fang prohibited us from defending.
Needless to say this game was no cake walk. You never know who nor where the game may present. Our current record was an astounding 3 wins and 1 draw. The fifth game we had was our best game. It was done on the brink of afternoon to evening.
We had ideal conditions in weather but not in terrain. It was the grass plains and the flag was in plain sight. We had to wait out our opponents for darker conditions. Unfortunately we were being hunted waiting for our opportunity. Mal and I were oddly enough, in our element while everyone else wasn't.
Bruno hated that he couldn't fly over and get the flag immediately. Saga surprisingly was livid in the grass plains, he lived in the tropical climates and said, "Bad things hide here". Tracey oddly enough crawled to their best capability and came up with our winning strategy. Using her thread as sticky traps we would trap our opponents. So we had systematically taken out our opponents one by one.
The sad thing was we captured the entire enemy and Bruno took off and got the flag. Fang laughed his ass off after he learned how we won. We would never have another game like that. It did make the books the most patient game ever. Then it was back to the hellish training.
The end of the second year of training had really molded us to the militia lifestyle. The rules were second nature to us. The combat training had given us incredible muscle memory. Fang still kicked out asses with training and hellish scolding. Things were starting to look up for me.
The final year of training for the militia was in all honesty, a year long review secession. Aside from the studies in magic, everything we learned had been revisited and refined. It was oddly refreshing to go over everything we learned and see how much we improved. The only thing different for us was the last week. Everything started to slow down, the hellish training wasn't as bad as it used to be.
When the last day approached and Fang announced that we all had to report to get our uniforms. That proud moment of you made it, had washed over everyone. Now the way our militia uniforms went from brown training threads. To either blue for officers, grey for grunt soldiers, green for scouts and ashen for tactical enforcers. My group was given the tactical enforcers uniform.
I was shocked to say the least, I don't recall signing up for this training. Unless it was the random assignment factor. No time for regretting past decisions, now that I came this far. The graduation ceremony was going to start soon and we had to arrive early for our seating. We met with others who were tactical enforcers graduates.
Before any of us had a chance to speak Fang ordered us to our seats. Everyone one else from the other ranks joined us. We gathered in a neat squared semi circle, facing the training and official Officers. Patiently waiting for the grand speech from Fang to begin.
Fang along with a few other training officers stood in the front. While two official Officers stood in the back. The other training officers were centaurs and the officials were Ogres. Needless to say, they all have off authority and respect. Fang to the initiative and began the speech.
"Today is the day you can proudly say that you have become one of us," Fang recited in a surprised tone.
"I honestly expected more drop outs and half baked quitters," Fang continued now shouting, "Just look at you young hot blooded warriors raring to go, but never forget the first real battle you experience will make or break you!"
After that the graduation ceremony proceeded and everyone got orders for their next assignment. Then we were allowed to eat at the mess. I know I glossed over the times when it came to small brief breaks from eating and chatting. The meals were always simple and nutritious. As for chatting all we did was joke around to relieve tension.
As for our graduation meal, it was more or less a lavish feast. Smoked meats, fresh baked bread and ciders for all to drink. Once everyone had their fill to eat and drink, we began to mingle and participate in foolhardy games. Mal seemed to be the life of the party and oddly enough Bruno pestered me. It's usually Saga who pesters me relentlessly.
"So Shard I have to ask you something?" Bruno asked hesitantly.
"I might regret this but go ahead," I shrugged.
"Why do you let Mal call you pretty boy?" Bruno asked, more curious than malicious.
"Have you tried to convince Mal of anything lately?" I countered getting Bruno and I to laugh.
"I should have known better," Bruno chuckled.
"Hey you two get over here!" Mal yelled, dragging both Bruno and I into her gathering.
The party after that was a hectic rush of sharing stories and surviving to today. The next day we were transported back to the city and a lot has changed since I left. The ruins and rubble of the calamity had been dealt with. Being restored or rebuilt to livable conditions. Mal stuck with me while I went to see Little Hammer. He became an accomplished blacksmith and wanted me to drop by his work.
The forge he worked at was quite a nice place. The front desk is where they display readily available merchandise and take orders. It was a large wood and stone building built next to each other. Mal and I entered the wooden one, Little Hammer was in charge of the front desk. I was surprised to see Little Hammer had bulked up. He really had changed a lot in three years.
"Damn Shard I didn't know you were babe magnet, tell me the secret already," Little Hammer guffawed.
"Good to see you too Little Hammer," I sighed.
"Little Hammer the secret is conversation," Mal added.
"You sound like everyone else now moving on, good to see you again Shard and catch!" Little Hammer sighed then shouted with a throw.
I caught it and I saw that it was a knife in a leather scabbard. It was a curved blade designed for cutting and slashing. I pulled the blade free and I could see the polished shine.
"This is a good looking knife," I complimented.
"Glad you like it and it's on me," Little Hammer thanked.
"Little Hammer, another secret you should know, is a well thought out gift that speaks volumes," Mal added, stepping outside.
"I envy you right now but I got some news for you," Little Hammer sighed then shifted to a serious tone.
"I'm all ears," I acknowledged putting the knife away in my pocket.
"We found Remmy and I hate to tell you Shard, but she's gone," Little Hammer lamented in a hushed tone.
I just stood in silence processing what I just heard.
"When did you find out?" I asked, fighting the urge to scream.
"Last month and we buried her at the memorial site, I got a map to get you there," Little Hammer continued.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," I thanked taking the map and leaving without another word.
I would have left Mal behind if she hadn't followed me. The memorial site was a long track up to the center of town. Once we arrived I saw a long wall of stone with names written on it. I made my way to where R names started and I scaled down the list and sure enough. Remmy's name was carved on the wall and read, "Remmy the Forge Master."
"So this is where you ended up," I said bitterly while I traced her name.
"Shard talk to me who is here?" Mal asked.
"My mother, we were separated during the calamity and I couldn't find her for so long," I explained with tears escaping my eyes.
"I understand, I lost my parents to the calamity as well," Mal sympathized.
I don't know how long I stood there tracing Remmy's name over and over again. Eventually I stopped and Mal got me walking away from the memorial site. I always hoped I would meet Remmy again and show her my accomplishments. Reality however ended that and I felt guilty for not spending more time searching. Eventually Mal stopped me and I realized she had brought us to a restaurant. The smell of cooked food snapped me out of my daze.
"Let's get some real food before we're sent off," Mal suggested.
"Sure, that actually sounds good," I agreed, slowly regaining myself.
We entered and were instantly seated much to my surprise. Mal ordered something for the both of us to split and for a brief moment I felt relief.
"Hey Shard do you need to delay the assignment?" Mal asked.
"No, I should be okay now I kind of knew in a way that she was gone," I explained to Mal.
"Do you have anywhere you can stay?" Mal asked.
"Not really," I answered honestly.
"I got a place and I don't think you being alone is a good thing," Mal offered.
"Sounds like you won't have to worry," I assured her.
"Good now let's eat a good meal and rest up," Mal cheered.
Before we all deployed for our first assignment Mal and I stopped by the memorial site one last time. Mal showed me her parents and said that it was only fair since she saw Remmy's. After we said our farewells I had an unexpected encounter. Cecilia stood before Mal and I, Cecilia had really changed over time. She wore a white cloak with a red gown, she matured and had more noticeable curves.
"Shard is that you?" Cecilia asked, surprised.
"How many dweller drake's do you know?" I asked jokingly.
"Ha ha, I see you haven't lost your wit but you changed a lot," Cecilia scoffed.
"Hey pretty boy don't leave me in dark, who's the budding rose?" Mal interjected.
"Mal this is Cecilia a friend from childhood and Cecilia this is Mal my," I introduced only for Mal to interrupt me.
"His badass comrade," Mal stated.
"I hope that is the case since Shard can get in over his head," Cecilia sighed with relief.
"Ha I wish that were the case, but pretty boy is a by the book kind of guy," Mal chuckled.
"I gladly admit I keep out of trouble and behave well," I boasted.
"It was good seeing again Shard, unfortunately I have to go back to my studies now," Cecilia pardoned herself.
"See you around Cecilia and you better reach the final of level magic in your career," I said waving goodbye.
Cecilia didn't say anything, she only smiled as she continued walking onward. Mal and I had a brief moment of silence. Until Cecilia was out of sights entirely, not a word nor sound from either of us was made. I was surprised to see Cecilia again and the fact she came to the memorial site on her own was a kind gesture. I can't help but feel blessed with the friends I have made.
"I envy you pretty boy, now let's get to the checkpoint on time," Mal started heading off.
"I'd advise against that," I countered catching up to Mal
We found an inn for the night and ended up sharing a room. While I didn't mind the limited space. Mal took the couch and crashed blissfully. I took the bed and slowly joined Mal into bliss.