In a hallway, Gellard and I followed the Lieutenant named Jeinu as he leads us to the training grounds.
We followed the lieutenant outside and are greeted by a huge field that is used as the training grounds for soldiers in our regiment which the Eaglefire Company is a part of.
The training grounds are filled with men practicing various kinds of weaponry and combat techniques, there are also a few women practicing in a select area within the field.
We approached a middle-aged man that seems to be overseeing a certain group of recruits as he watches them execute different combat moves. Lieutenant Jeinu goes near the man as he tries to catch his attention.
*cough*
"Ahem, instructor." said Jeinu.
The man turns around as he looks at our group, the man has long dark brown hair that reaches down to his shoulders and a pair of jet black eyes, he also sports a handlebar mustache.
"Ah, Jeinu. What brings you here?" said the instructor.
"I'm here bringing these two for you, the Captain told me that they need to be assessed since they are joining the military." said Jeinu.
The instructor raised a brow at the statement.
"Oh? The captain said that? If he did, then these two must be having special treatment eh?" said the Instructor.
"Yes, one of them carries a Rose Emblem that came from Lord Fordragon himself." said Jeinu.
*Whistles~*
"Hooo, then we have some special people joining our ranks then. Alright, I'll assess the two of them." said the Instructor as he looks at me and Gellard.
"That's great! Ah, by the way, let me introduce you to them." said Jeinu.
The Lieutenant turns around and faces me and Gellard.
"This here is Sir Olyvar Harthow, Instructor of the Eaglefire Company who's also a Knight. He may be lower than rank from me, but he's a respectable man and a good warrior and instructor." said Jeinu.
"Hahaha! Stop embarrassing me Jeinu, as this young man said. I am Olyvar Harthow, and I will be the one who'll assess your combat prowess. If you manage to pass then you'll be able to join Eaglefire Company and will be given the rank of Corporal as you two are given special treatment, and if you manage to impress me I may tell Jeinu or the Captain to promote you to sergeant! If you manage to defeat me… Well, that's not gonna happen, Hahahaha!"
"Well, I guess that's it for introductions. My job is done here, listen to what sir Harthow will say and I wish you luck. If you have any questions ask sir Harthow, if it's anything important, you may look for me. Well, I'll now report to the captain, farewell." said Jeinu as he heads inside the barracks.
"You two, follow me." said Harthow as he walks onto the field.
We followed the Instructor as we headed to an empty space within the training grounds. The Instructor stopped walking as he faced us.
"Alright, here we are. Welcome to the Eaglefire Company, In this place, we'll start assessing your strength and skills, you will be given a rank based on your mastery and intelligence. We'll start with you, come here boy." said sir Harthow as he motions for Gellard to step forward.
"State your name and your weapon of choice." said Harthow.
"My name is Gellard Arathi, sir. I use a Longsword."
"Arathi eh? The Ancient line of kings? Aren't you people extinct?" joked Harthow.
"Uhhh… I don't know what you're talking about sir, all I know is that my surname is Arathi as that's what my father told me."
"Hmmm, alright then. Remove your sword and place it somewhere else, we'll be dueling using wooden swords."
Gellard unstrapped his Longsword as he gave it to me to carry as he is given a wooden sword by sir Olyver Harthow.
Sir Harthow and Gellard made space and faced each other as they prepare for the duel. Both of them brandished their swords as they circle each other, waiting to whoever strikes first.
Sire Harthow stroke first as he dashed and sends a simple downward slash to Gellard, Gellard braces himself as he blocks the upcoming strike. Gellard blocked the strike and jumped away as he narrowly avoided a kick from sir Harthow. Sir Harthow, strikes again as he dashed towards Gellard with a diagonal slash. Gellard attempts to block but is surprised that the slash is a feint and he flinches, he is then hit by a swift frontal kick on the stomach by sir Harthow. Gellard jumps away while clutching his hurt stomach, he ignores the pain and dashes to sir Harthow as he performs a left slash faint, sir Harthow notices the faint and blocks his left side, Gellard saw this and executes a right elbow strike towards sir Harthow's face.
Sir Harthow, is hit by the elbow strike and laughs.
"Hahaha! Good one, but don't think that I'll fall for that again, I won't go easy on you anymore, boy." said Harthow.
Gellard brandishes his sword as he performs another sword strike, but before he can execute a strike, sir Harthow suddenly dashed forward and swiftly performs a right-upward slash. Gellard is caught off guard as he quickly raises his sword to block and barely stops the sword of sir Harthow.
"Nice reflexes, boy."
"Thanks." said Gellard.
Gellard and sir Harthow disengage and they once again circle each-other as they prepare to engage one other once more.
This time, both Gellard and sir Harthow dashed as they approach each other with a predetermined strike. Gellard performs a sideward slash and sir Harthow executes an overhead slash, suddenly sir Harthow twists his wrist downwards and the tip of the sword struck Gellard's head before he can hit sir Harthow.
"Hahaha! I won, kid." said Harthow as he withdraws his sword.
Gellard also withdraws his sword as he sighed for his loss.
"*sigh* It's my loss then." said Gellard.
"Don't worry kid, what you did earlier is impressive enough for a person as young as you. Hahaha! You have good reflexes and foundations, but you need to train more if you want to beat me. You're twenty years too early, but you're good." said Harthow.
"Thank you, sir." said Gellard.
Sir Olyver Harthow smiled at him for that, he then faced me and spoke.
"Now it's your turn, lass. Step forward."
I walked forward as I gave back the sword of Gellard and spoke to sir Harthow.
"I am Noel Flonsch sir. I also use a sword."
'Use a sword? Psch!, I use nothing!!'
"Flonsch? Are you perhaps related to Lord Merriwyn Flonsch?" said Harthow.
"Uhh, I don't know who that is sir, I came from far away."
"Hmmm, alright then. Maybe you're just someone who came from a family with a similar name Hahaha! My bad."
'I have no idea who you are talking about you geezer. I just transmigrated into this world without having any first-hand information!'
"Well then, take the wooden sword that Gellard used." said Harthow.
I nodded and went to Gellard and took the wooden sword that he used. I then faced sir Harthow as we prepare to engage. I raised my guard as I hold my sword in front of me with both hands. I hold my ground as I wait for sir Harthow to attack, sir Harthow brandishes his sword and dashes towards me as he performs a downward slash, I block the slash with my sword then I sidestep as I attempt to kick sir Harthow at his side. Sir Harthow jumps away as he evaded my attempted kick. I then swiftly dash forward as I lash my sword upwards at him, sir Harthow blocks my strike with ease as he counters it with a downward slash, he lunges forward and bashed me with his shoulder. I was then forced backward as I was hit with his forceful shoulder bash.
Sir Harthow, lunges at me once more and strikes downwards with his sword. I prepare to block but then sir Harthow ducks and performs a leg sweep, I fell out of balance as my legs were hit.
*Thud!*
"Ah!"
"Hahaha! You're too stiff kiddo. Come at me!" said Harthow.
I stood up and raised my sword as I brandish it for a sideward strike, I lunged and performed a sideward strike, sir Harthow blocked my strike as expected but I lunged away cast a frostbolt at his feet. Sir Harthow got surprised by the sudden use of the spell, I took the chance and performed a forward thrust towards his chest, the thrust forced sir Harthow to fall on the ground.
"Gah! A spell user? You took me by surprise lassie, but you're not the only one that can use spells!" said Harthow.
Sir Harthow, broke free from the ice that anchored his feet on the ground, he then stood up and performs a spell on his own. Sir Harthow's body glowed white for a second and then he dashed towards me, the speed of sir Harthow this time is something that I can't react quickly to, soon enough I was hit on the shoulder with a thrust. I then staggered backward as I was forced off balance.
"F-fast!" exclaimed Gellard.
"Hahaha! Are you surprised, lassie?" said Harthow.
I looked at sir Harthow as I massaged my shoulder to ease the pain.
"What was that?" I asked.
"That my friend was a body enhancement spell. I used a speed-enhancing spell to make myself faster." said Harthow.
I stared at sir Harthow as I asked.
"Can I learn it?"
"Of course you can! Hahahaha! Since you have magical aptitude then you're fit to learn it." said Harthow.
'That's great! I can learn a new spell that enhances my physical ability.'
Sir Harthow motions for us to come closer to him.
"Great job you two, both of you passed with flying colors as you both impressed me with your combat prowess! You're not up to par with the elites yet, but you two are certainly better than the recruits we have. Gellard, you have good reflexes but you should practice more on your speed and sharpen your observation, you easily flinched earlier."
"Thank you , sir, I'll work hard." said Gellard.
"Hahahaha! That's the spirit! As for you, lassie. Your movements are too stiff, you also stay in one place too often, don't stand idly on a single place! You need to move your feet! Practice on footwork, also your strikes are sloppy! Practice swinging your sword more. On the other hand, your use of the frostbolt to render me immobile was a smart move on your part, good job!"
"Thank you, sir! I'll put my sweat and blood on practicing the sword from now on!"
"Hahahaha! You shouldn't focus on only practicing your sword, take time on learning new spells too, you have the makings of a good Mage-Knight!" said Harthow.
'Mage-Knight huh? So if I use a sword while using magic at the same time, that makes me a Mage-Knight… But that Elf told me that I have the makings of an Arch-Mage… Ahhh! Whatever.'
"That's great Noel! You can be a Mage-Knight in the future! You're making me a lot more envious of you…" said Gellard.
"Eh? Well, I'm not sure if I can be one…"
"Well, enough of that you two. I'll now announce your ranks, first is Gellard. From today onwards, you're now given the rank of Master Sergeant! As for you, Noel, I am proud to give you the rank of Sergeant Major! Gellard here will act as your assistant. You two will be given the appropriate equipment and dog tags after I submit my report to the Knight-Captain." said Harthow.
"Thank you, sir!" said Gellard and me.
"You two are now officially members of the Eaglefire Company! Make us proud, Hahaha! *cough* Alright, you're dismissed." said Harthow.
"Yes, sir!"
Gellard and I walked away as we head back inside the barracks.
--Olyver Harthow POV--
I gaze at the departing backs of the two as they head inside the barracks.
I set my sights on the white-haired girl.
'Noel Flonsch, huh.��
I looked up at the sky as I thought to myself.
'Merriwyn, I may have found your missing daughter..'
--POV End--
---End---
**Additional Information**
Regiment= an army of 1000 soldiers.
Handlebar Mustache= A Handlebar Mustache is a stache that has upturned sides.