The room Arthur was assigned fit the bill of the lowest rankings accommodation. It was a small room barely able to fit a frame of a bed with two sheets on top of it, one to sleep on top of and the other to wrap himself up in, and a shoddy mustard pillow that Arthur was sure was once meant to be a creamy white.
Apart from the bed there was a simple wooden trunk for personal possessions and clothes. Arthur supposed he was lucky as his room also came with a small window looking out into the courtyard that the receptionist showed him telling him this is where sergeant Kage was referring to for the 0800 training session.
Overall, the room may be small and bare but it was a damn sight better than most had in this area and Arthur never was one to ungrateful for the things he had, he learnt to take every good thing in his life properly as he didn't have many. Slumping into the bed, Arthur took a moment to adjust to sudden shift in his previous life. He was now a private in the Divine Graces 31st Light Brigade.
While this might sound like a massive change from a street rat into a soldier it just wasn't. Both were very similar as you started off as a no one and had to rise up through the merit of your own actions, mostly being of a violent nature, till you could challenge for the top.
Actually they were so similar that Arthur couldn't help a light chuckle escaping him as he thought it all over. 'Though I doubt slinking will be my ticket to some officers pet this time..' Arthur thought as he laughed at his own little joke.
Soon enough it was lights out as Arthur had a big day tomorrow and he couldn't be tired for it. He had put away the small collection of personal items last and had packed away his clean, smart clothes. He was happy that those had been the closest at hand when he had, had to race away from his old room.
He couldn't imagine how much more shit he would have had to put up with by local gangs or some more wealthy people looking at him as an easy target. The clothes made him look like he came from a relatively good home. Meaning not to messed with by the local small time thugs and someone who isn't scum for those more wealthy kids his age.
At first light, Arthur shifted amongst his thin blanket and stretched his sore and aching body. The bed had been as uncomfortable as it looked, and it looked terrible and stiff. When his body started to respond again he sat up and removed the blanket.
Going about his daily routing of stretching his body and then opened the door hoping for a bowel to wash himself with. Sure enough the bowel as promised by the receptionist was waiting there. Alongside were some plain brown clothes for him to wear.
He finished cleaning and dressing quickly as he saw that the sun had nearly fully risen. It was soon time for his training session so Arthur made his way to the central courtyard.
As he made arrived at the courtyard he saw that most of the others had already arrived ahead of him. He wasn't too surprised as he had purposefully done this as being there first would attract attention to himself. As it was his arrival had already attracted a few gazes.
Most just gave him a glance to see whether he was any threat or not. Seeing his stature and skinny arms they obviously deemed him weak and a non-threat. However, a group of the tallest and seemingly strongest boys there had decided he was too easy a target. The biggest of them standing around 5"5 feet tall towering over all of the other malnourished and impoverished kids, stated to saunter over to him with a gate reeking of confidence and brutality.
Arthur was altogether too familiar with what this meant. He decided that this time he wouldn't just shrink in front of this guy, never again would he be subservient and cowardly. He had tried that and it got him beatings, starvation, dehydration and shame.
He had hated the way he acted in front of Tate, the man was a fat and greedy bastard. Now he was given a second chance to recreate himself he would be strong and confident, merciful to those he cared for and show no mercy to those who stood against him or his morals. He stood as tall as he could and readied himself.
He may have been beaten more times than he could remember but that had been because he had never tried to fight back. As he stood taller and kept his legs slightly bent and agape with his leading leg slightly forward, Arthur couldn't help a smile creep on his face as excitement won over his fear. He had felt this feeling before every slinking job he went on.
The guy walking over stiffened for a second as he saw the change in the small boy. But, before anyone other than Arthur could notice, he carried on swaggering over to Arthur. He was just some small half-dead kid what threat could he possibly be? Reaching Arthur he made it so that he looked down as much as he could on Arthur.
"They're looking for soldiers here kid not insects." He shouted out loud enough for all to hear as his followers snickered at his joke. "Yeah I was also thinking about that... don't they also like them to have brains also? Well I guess they do like to use some of the cannon fodder as meat shields as well though so hey you've still got a job after all!" Arthur sent right back with an innocent, shit eating grin.
Everyone stood still in sever shock as they stared at the small boy who'd dared say that to the gigantic guy. "Seems like you have some balls on you huh.. well I'll be sure to show why you shouldn't speak to your betters like that, Ant!" The tall boy roared out as his face turned crimson in rage and embarrassment.
Before any more words could be said, he threw out his fist at Arthur. Arthur simply dodged slightly to the right before lifting his own fist and jabbing the man in the throat. To Arthur the boy was simply too obvious. When he was about to throw his punch his whole body shifted as he angled to his left moving his arm back to throw out his fist.
Then when did punch forward his arm went wide leaving more than enough space for Arthur to move inside his defences. From there Arthur wasn't stupid enough to overestimate his own strength so knew he need to end this fast. He jabbed as hard as he could at the guys jugular. The large boy took one step forward before the pain and lack of breath made him grasp at his throat falling to his knees wincing and struggling to find any oxygen.
Arthur simply watched him coldly for a second, deeming him no longer a threat, he looked to the rest to make a show that he was not to be messed with. The others eyes were tinged in fear as they stared at the tiny boy, only 4"8 feet tall, easily beat a boy nearly a foot taller than him!
But Arthur could also see some respect and awe in them as well. Even grudging respect from the large boys own followers. Arthur stood tall as he loomed over the crawling and gasping figure of the tall boy, looking like a modern version of David and the Goliath. He seemed to suddenly grow a few feet and muscles as he struck an empowered pose full of quiet confidence.
"Alright you pieces of underfed shit! Stand in line!" A sudden shout broke the unusual air that had fallen at the tall boy's defeat. All the boys rushed to create a shoddily formed line, making sure to leave a good gap for Arthur in the center. Even the barely breathing, blue in the face the large kid crawled himself into the line before shudderingly standing up.
"Attention! Make your useless selves presentable for the sergeant!" Again came the voice as it thundered across the courtyard. Along with the voice came two domineering figures walking towards them.