"Aim, Fire!" He watched the recruits firing their fire energy weapons hitting targets and focused on his own training. "No time for resting. I must work harder than they are."
Salina's voice floated in his sea of energy. "You're growing quickly just by learning how to make a weapon and armor. You imaging ability is growing. You should be proud of your progress so far."
He smiled and looked at his hands and arms covered in bruises. "Yes, Salina. It's worth it, but still not strong enough." He looked up in the sky and stopped his hammering. "Time for weapons training…"
He took off his apron and walked out and stared at the waiting training dummies. "Hey big guy, what are you planning to practice in today? Please make something cool." He smiled at Salina's words. "I have something in mind. Something you might find interesting. Maybe they'll be finally satisfied in my ability and let me join the others again…"
He closed his eyes and circled the energy inside him. "Time to form the image." He smiled as he felt heat in his hand. "Almost…"
"That's kind of boring. It's just a short-curved blade with fire energy flowing through the center." He smiled as he watched Salina pout at him.
"This is just its normal form. Watch what it can do."
He stood in front of one of the training dummies and swung the sword. He smiled as the sword lit up turning it into a long blade of flames.
He ran towards the training dummy and swung the sword of fire towards it carving deep burnt lines across its surface. He smiled and lowered the point of the sword. He watched the blade of fire lengthen and fall onto the ground moving as if it was a living snake.
"You copied my blade. That's cheating…" He saw her pouting at him and laughed. "I took your idea and changed it to suit me."
He looked at the dummy and flung the whip of fire around the dummy and with a pull of his wrist he watched with a smile as the dummy fell into pieces on the ground.
He took a deep breath and looked at the pile of ash and burnt pieces of the training dummy remaining. He looked at the blade and watched it fade away. "Salina why does my weapons that I form fade, whereas the old monster his doesn't?"
He looked at Salina in thought. "Do you remember, that he said you are similar but also different. Maybe it's because of that mister Fire eater."
He nodded. "That could be it. He did say he was a Fire changer and not a Fire eater."
"Recruit!" He stood up at attention and looked at the scarred Firewarrior approach him. "I was told you're able to form weapons of fire…" He nodded. "Let me see you use them."
He nodded and formed the short-curved blade in his hands. He looked at the Firewarrior who just crossed their arms and watched in silence. "Show me what it can do against the dummies."
He nodded and shook the blade causing it roar into flames and attacked the dummy leaving burn marks across the dummy's chest. He then lowered the blade turning it into the whip form and wrapped the dummy before ripping it to shreds.
"Recruit not bad, but you've forgotten something very important when it comes to fighting and war."
"Thud…"
He turned his head to the training dummy and watched with his mouth open as a small blade had punctured it.
"Boom!"
He was forced to take a step back as the training dummy exploded into ash that the wind blew away. He stepped towards where the dummy was and saw no remains.
"One on one flashy moves are nice if you're a showoff."
He picked up the blade and handed it to the Firewarrior and looked at him in surprise. "In a war especially if you're in the middle of one, those flashy moves can be read by the enemy. The rule that you've forgotten is this… Every attack needs to be a killing blow. Every strike you make needs to take an enemy out, if you don't then you'll tire yourself out and die."
He nodded and followed as the Firewarrior pointed to the ruined building. "The old guy that lives up there. He was able to change an entire battlefield on his own. Every strike he made, there was not just one that died, but thousands. Remember that recruit."
He looked at the training dummy and then at the Firewarrior saluting him. "Recruit. The reason why I'm here, is that you're about to go on your first mission exam. Be the weapon and change the battlefield… That is an order."
He saluted and watched the Firewarrior leave through the guarded gate and sighed. Salina floated around him. "He's right about that. You need to kill with every hit, and not just leave a scratch or a burn."
He nodded and looked at his hands breathing deeply. "Yes. If I'm going to be a weapon, then I can't just run into the middle of the enemy camp. That is the quickest way to die since I'll be a moving target."
He shook his head. "But that's all I know. Just running in and hitting with everything I got." He sighed. "As long as I'm not leading the team, then I'll be able to be that weapon."
He looked at Salina and smiled faintly. "Hey. You said you want to be a guard. I know my memory is a little foggy on many things, but isn't the Firewarrior supposed to be the head of the guards? Which means you need to be a leader among soldiers."
He sat on a nearby rock and shook his head. "I'm a weapon, I don't have the skills for strategy, let alone the ability to read or write." He shrugged his shoulders. "All I need is to be told where to be pointed, and I'll do the damage."
She tapped him on the head. "There is something called study." He looked at her and smiled. "Yes. You're right, and this is the place where I can learn about reading and writing but…" He looked away and stared at the ruined building and sighed. "You know the rules of this place. It���s not easy to ask for something until I have a name and a tattoo."
He sighed as her smile became a frown. "Stupid rules of the old ways. If you finish the task that he has set for you, then I'm sure he'll listen to you."
He nodded and stood up walking to the gate. He stared at the guards blocking the exit. Recruit. You're not allowed to leave here, and you haven't been summoned so turn around and get back to your training…" He sighed as they drew their weapons.
He nodded at them and turned around walking away cursing under his breath. He sighed as he listened to Salina curse at the guards. "I never knew a woman would have that type of tongue."
He smiled at her angry face, watching it turn red with anger as she hit him. "You big brainless oaf. Why didn't you challenge them? We could have left if you won."
He shook his head. "We can't duel yet. I haven't completed my task he's given me. It seems I won't get out of here until I complete it."
He walked to the training dummies listening to Salina. "What if we made him come here, and show him something very special?"
He looked at her with curiosity in his eyes. "What do you have in mind?"
"Fireball…" He smiled at her mischievous smile. "We both know that it can be done, and you did it before in the stone coffin."
He watched as Salina floated around him with a fireball floating above her hand and smiled. She waved her hand and the fireball faded away. "Just like the recruits are doing with their fire energy weapons, except much cooler and stronger." He looked at the dummies chained up in front of him. "If you destroy all the dummies with a fireball. I'm sure he'll come and see you."
He looked at her in confusion. "Why would he be interested if I can throw a fireball?"
"Let's call it a hunch, and with your level of control he'll come."
He nodded. "Let's give it a try…" He closed his eyes. The hairs on the back of his neck rose, and he turned around staring at the old man.
"Boy. I've heard about your small improvements… Not bad for a recruit, but still nothing impressive…"
He nodded in silence watching the old man uses his fingers to tap on his black walking stick. "We need to talk… Follow me."
Following the old man that waved at the guards, he followed in silence with Salina floating around him. He glanced at her in confusion.
He took large steps to keep up with the old man. He cursed under his breath. By the time that they had stopped moving he was panting and hurriedly caught his breath under the gaze of the old man.
"Look down there at the recruits training and preparing for their first exam mission." He turned and stared at the recruits firing the fire energy weapons."You'll be also going on this mission exam."
He smiled at the old man and saluted excitedly. "You need to hear me finish before you react. You're not going in the mission exam to be a soldier, but to lead them… Their lives and blood will be your responsibility."
He felt the blood leave his face and he took a sudden step back shaking his head.
He looked at the old man with pleading in his eyes. "Fine speak."
"Sir. I don't think that's a good idea. Is there someone more experienced and talented to lead?"
His heart sunk as he watched the old man shake their head. "If you want to be a guard. This is where you start."
He took a step back. "Sir. I don't even know how to read or write. I have no idea on strategy or tactics. I'm a weapon. Someone tells me where to go, and I go destroying everything in my path."
He heard the old man mutter something under their breath and shake their head. "There's too much fear, doubt and worry in you… Those things you said you don't know. You can learn them here. THAT'S WHAT THIS PLACE IS FOR!"
He was forced to take a step back from the intent the old man released. His heart beating rapidly, and he felt all his strength leave him. "If you go into battle thinking like that. Then they're already dead. Do you know what a leader needs that's more important than just those small tiny things?"
He shook his head and lowered it avoiding the old man's eyes. "A leader of soldiers and an army needs a strong heart that doesn't waver no matter what is against them, and the confidence in their strength and the strength of those around them." He heard the old man move and looked up sadly staring the old man's back. "Be gone from my sight, you selfish and narrow-minded person. I thought you had ability. You've proven opposite."
"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!"
He nodded silently, saluted and walked away from the old man with tears in his eyes. "Salina he's right. I'm worthless, and I can't be a leader or a guard at all."
He sat on a rock. With his head in his hands. ��What do I do? Where do I go? I feel like I've got nowhere to go…"