'What?'
Strom was immediately shocked after seeing the small man that the soldier next to him saluted and almost forgot to do the same himself.
Leaning over a massive table that housed a map, which covered its surface and was dotted with small flags, was a small man in gleaming white armor. The few rays of sunlight that managed to permeate from the top of the tent, shined down and reflected off of the white armor with the face of a snarling lion protruding from its center chest plate.
The shining white armor matched the small man's hair which was of a similarly pure white color that Strom could only imagine captivated multiple women. However, its owner was of a smaller stature and even held the face of a youth in their teens like Storm.
"Ah, Daren. What do you have to report?" Questioned the small commander in a monotone voice.
"As far as I can tell, the Zephyr Kingdom is on its final legs. We wiped their army stationed outside towards the west and met little resistance upon pressing forward towards the city. Only a few were injured which was whom I returned with." Reported Daren with utmost respect.
"Good. This long war will finally be reaching its end... Who's this?" Asked the Commander emotionlessly and without surprise.
"Sir, my name is Strom! I am sixteen years old, have some experience, and wish to join the Roman militia!" Hurriedly explained Strom with an erect stature.
"What weapon do you specialize?" Asked the Commander.
"Longsword sir!"
"Good. We could use a few more swordsman. Their numbers are dwindling now that the spear has become more popular amongst the soldiers..." The Commander commented as he slid his fingers down the blade of the spear behind him.
"That could probably have something to do with your influence sir." Slightly chuckled Daren from the side as he pointed out the commander's weapon behind him.
"Ah... I see... Well in any case, I accept your registration. Do you have the required forms?" Asked the Commander as he changed the subject.
"Yes sir!" Replied Strom as he rummaged out the papers from his cloth bag.
"Hmm... Zephyr... You are aware that this kingdom is exactly who we are currently facing right now, correct?" Said the Commander with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes sir! I was taught that only the strong may prevail!" Resolutely stated Strom without any resentment.
"Good. I'm sure you'll fit in pretty easily around here then. Daren, help him get situated in the ranks and notify me when you begin his testing. Also, if I hear any other rumors about who I'm sleeping with, then you can expect that you will be no longer walking around this company with your legs still attached." Ordered the Commander with a monotone voice.
"Yes Commander Axus!" Answered Daren with an even straighter salute.
"Come on kid, I'll help get you your things."
Strom nodded his head and followed after the apparent gossip king of the camp while silently chuckling to himself.
'I think I should be able to survive here.' He contentedly thought to himself.
The peculiar Commander, the strange soldiers, and the awesome weapons, what was here that Strom didn't like? Sure the Commander was quite an odd person but Strom only found this to make him more interesting. As he had learned from listening to the soldiers' conversations on the way to the camp, he realized that besides himself, everyone had their own reasons and stories that led them to being here. Besides, the military was far better than living in the poor conditions of the slums he was used to.
Daren who was leading the new recruit stopped before a medium sized tent and opened the flaps, revealing different kinds of equipment and apparel the Romans all over the camp were either using or wearing.
"Everything in here is for the basic soldier, so grab what you find is necessary to stay alive. Oh, and don't worry about Axus... He's a little strange but he is our Commander after all, and a great one at that. I even heard he might be in the selection process for that absent Legionnaire position." Said Daren thoughtfully and emphatically.
By studying Daren's face, Strom could easily determine the Commander's previous statements along with the other soldiers' could be indeed correct. The man lived for information, specifically of other's lives.
However, the soldier's words aroused some surprise from Strom.
'Not only did they let me join the ranks but I can already get some decent gear?'
The difference between how the Roman Empire operated when compared to his Zephyr Kingdom was too terrifying. The aforementioned "basic" gear that filled the tent was all topnotch equipment, but the soldier beside him claimed it was just for the lower and entry ranked soldiers!
Strom compared the common, no, even the more elite gear of his kingdom to the Roman's, and found the vast difference in quality to almost be laughable if it wasn't for being a previous resident of the Zephyr Kingdom himself.
'The Roman Empire sure is rich...'
The amount of wealth displayed by the military reminded him of his main purpose for joining, and he quickly picked out some pieces of equipment that suited him.
"There! Now you look like a soldier! All that's left is to cut that long hair of yours so you can properly see when your fighting." Commented Daren as he studied the youth's transformation from beggar to soldier.
Strom nodded his head in agreement but disagreed with the man's last statement. His messy dark hair had indeed grown quite long and almost reached his shoulders in length at this point, but sticking to the traditions of his father he decided against cutting it.
'I may have joined the Empire but you can never forget your roots...'
Another of his father's teachings floated along in his head and reminded him of his values.
"As long as it's out of the way it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Asked Storm with an innocent face.
Daren shrugged in response while raising his hands.
"Not like it's a strictly enforced requirement. Just a suggestion to keep you alive out there." Pointed out Daren with indifference.
Strom nodded his head before grabbing a thin leather strip from within the tent to tie his hair back.
"That works too." Nodded Daren in approval.
"Now let's get you a weapon fitting for a Roman soldier!" He exclaimed excitedly.
Although it was quite obvious Strom would choose a sword as his choice of weapon after stating his experience as a swordsman, Strom could tell Daren was still excited to see which sword he would exactly choose.
"Let me tell you! A man's closest companion in this word is a fine blade. No women, riches, or wine can replace the connection you hold between such a fine and dangerous piece of art!" Daren proudly explained while walking off towards another tent near them.
Strom once again nodded his head in agreement.
'Maybe the Roman Empire isn't so terrible as everyone makes it out to be...' He thought.
Most of his parents' teachings closely aligned with the Roman military's ways so much that Strom was even beginning to question his own parents' actual roots.
Strom widened his eyes in surprise as Daren walked back with a familiar weapon in his hands.
"The longsword!" Shouted Strom in amazement.
The gleaming steel blade flickering underneath the sun's rays made the longsword shine with an even greater splendor than when Strom had originally happened to lay his eyes on it earlier.
"Hahaha, I figured I'd get that kind of reaction! I saw you eyeing this beauty up earlier and knew that this was most likely gonna be your choice!" Commented Daren thoughtfully as he handed the blade over to the new recruit.
Strom accepted the fine blade with widened eyes and tested its weight and balance in his hand.
'I knew it! It's a great sword!'
The long shimmering blade silently cut through the air as Strom swung the blade to get a better feel of it.
The look of content evidently plastered on Strom's face showed how accurate Daren's guess was.
"Now that all of that is taken care of, let's just see what kind of experience you really have." Heartily laughed Daren while watching the fascinated kid before him expertly flick the blade in the air.
In a small dirt square near the edge of the encampment, stood two men facing opposite of each other in an imposing manner. A young man, with a longsword glinting in the evening sun, held a serious look and narrowly focused eyes that pierced through his opponent.
"Ha, you're like a completely different person when focused!" Shouted a rather carefree soldier that held a medium sized sword with a knife like shortsword in his other hand.
"Why can't I test him out instead?" Asked a voice from the side of the square with a very monotone pitch.
"Commander... Do you really want to scare off another recruit with that ridiculous strength of yours? You go overboard practically every time!" Complained the soldier in the square with exasperation.
The small commander blankly tilted his head at the soldier with an innocently questioning look.
"Well I didn't scare you off when I tested your capabilities..." Grumbled Axus.
Daren face-palmed the back of his hand that held the dagger to his forehead.
"Sigh... Whatever, Strom are you ready? Remember not to hold back. This is to gauge your placement in the ranks, so fight like your life and future depends on it!" For once Daren seriously iterated.
Strom nodded his head in full seriousness while brandishing his new blade.
"Alright, I won't hold back!" He responded, and with that he disappeared from his previous position with a cloud of dust, which crackled with small specks of blue trailing electricity.