Time had passed slowly for Arthur and the other twenty three boys. The training had proven to be as hellish as advertised.
Kage and his Corporal had broken them slowly but surely. Arthur had seen how the degrading nicknames had affected the others.
Ghoul, named that because of his severe malnourishment and pale white skin when he first arrived, had become like an animal at every chance to eat. He would wolf down his own body weight in food if he could.
He was desperately trying to get rid of his skinny physique to feel more normal instead of wafer thin.
He would spend hours in the sun so he could remove his former pale and pallid skin, no longer looking like some re-animated corpse just dug up from the grave.
He now looked nothing like a ghoul having recovered a healthy layer of fat and sun-touched skin.
The eternal bags under his eyes gone as he now never went without a smile on his face. A lively glint in his eyes replacing that dead fish gaze.
Simply put he was transformed!
And he wasn't the only one, as all of the boys had furiously trained and tried in their own time to change the reason for their moniker.
'Goliath', however, remained the same old. He had tried many times to undermine Arthur, as he knew he couldn't win head to head anymore. Arthur having underniably changed the most.
Before he was only 4"8 feet tall, skin and bones barely standing on his own two feet.
He worked tirelessly to change that as much as humanly possible, just like he had promised.
Now he stood at almost 5"7, towering above everyone else in his group. He had gained a good amount of muscle as well with his hard training and good food making him much stronger, faster than any of the others.
to the point that he could match the corporal, a veteran soldier, let alone some 14 year old boy.
Along with that he had, had his hair cut short in a military style to remove any disadvantage long hair has. finally getting to see his appearance whilst doing so too.
He had seen a handsome face that had started losing its baby fat, with short messy brown hair and brown eyes staring right back at him.
His eyes weren't a simple brown though as, when he looked closer, he saw it had a greenish/grey ring that encapsulated it bringing a sense of mystery and guileful charm.
Overall he came to see why others had made fun of his looks as he surely stood out compared to all the other boys here and much better than street rats like Tate and Billy.
When he had his growth spurt it only solidified his position in his group as the natural leader.
Although, Arthur didn't understand at first feeling slightly creeped out by the slight reverence and respect in all but Goliath's eyes.
When he finally figured it out he felt overwhelming pride in himself for the first time. But he also felt fear too. Fear of letting them down, not standing up to the image they'd set him.
For this he decided that, as he wanted to change himself, then he would become the man they already saw him as. He would become worthy of that respect.
From then on Kage often saw how Arthur would lead the boys and encourage them to further improve themselves.
He would hold them back so the slowest could keep up or take most of the weight from their pack to lighten their load when they did their weighed runs.
Kage couldn't even get over the surprise as he saw how the boys would crowd around Arthur after finishing the 'Gauntlet' and wait for him to explain what they did right and wrong! He made each and every one of them better and better.
'Goliath' would sneer at this and comment on how he was just some ant that had grown too big for its own good.
'Kage was right to call him Goliath. Big and stupid is spot on.' Arthur couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle at the idiocy of 'Goliath'. They were in this together and so they needed to help each other.
Training had been hard too, even for Arthur. He had been pushed hard. When it had started he could barely walk afterwards and felt like death constantly hung over his shoulder. But he persevered throughout it all, stubborn as an oxe.
When they had started lessons after gaining a foundational physique from rigorous training, He often saw how he found it came naturally to him.
All the combat training became second nature in no time. He would often spar with the Corporal, a small but broad shouldered man, in hand to hand as well as with the sword and spear.
He picked up techniques to try to create his own style but never really managed it most of the time meaning he'd get his arse handed to him by the Corporal.
rifle and flintlocks were equally interesting. Arthur struggled with the others to learn how to slowly increase their reloading speed. This was a key component in what made the Divine Graces army so terrifying. That and the Stoics anyway but nulls weren't told much about them.
This comprised of a few "simple steps" as the corporal had called it.
Take a powder sachet, tear it open, put most of it in and the remove the bullet from your poach. Dropped it into the barrel and then pour the last remainder of the powder in before removing the ramrod from below the rifle.
Use the ramrod and stamp down on the content of the barrel stiffly so that it is at the bottom of the barrel. Take aim, cock the flintlock and... Fire!
Arthur's aim for his first shot went slightly awry and only snapped the dummy's stock arm. Although that was better than the others who had all completely missed.
Only 'Goliath' had been close and he had still only scratched the arm and not directly hit it. After continuous and arduous training being endlessly drilled into them, they were all roughly hitting their shots with Arthur and 'Goliath' hitting square in the center.
Now, time had nearly come for them to finish their basic training.
Kage stalked up to the ramrod straight line of fresh faced men. He thought of the transformation he had seen in these boys turned men.
They had all changed through his training and he could see it in them all, they had become stronger, faster and more fierce.
None of them had that timid and naïve look in their eyes now as they stared straight ahead not moving a millimeter, even if a fly were to land on their hardened faces.
"I stand here in front of you today to congratulate you on passing out! I have seen you struggle and fall before gritting your teeth and standing up time and again.
I once stood here wondering how I was to turn those small and weak pups into wolves!" He paused to smile as they all let out a small laugh remembering their old selves.
"But now I stand here in front of a pack of wolves the Divine Kings finest! You have all made me proud!" bellowing across the field in utmost pride. They had all made it through the hell that he made for them.
"Ghoul! That name was given to a frightened and starved boy who had spent his days cowering in come shaded room. Now you are a warrior! I change your name to ghost, for you are fast and nimble. I want you to remember your past as ghoul as that is what made you what you are today so Ghost is fitting isn't it?"
Kage asked Ghost, he had spent some time to come up with new names for those he felt were most deserving. "Yes Sir!" Ghost cried out in great joy, he had truly hated his name as it shamed him for his past. "Inbreeder step forward!" one of the smaller boys stepped forward.
He had a face only a mother could love which is what had earned him the nickname. "While I don't take back your family heritage..." Kage let a small pause as he and the rest laughed, even Inbreeder himself let a small chuckle.
"But... You have shown great skill in you small weapons and bayonet training. That as well as some stories that have reached my ears, Has made me think 'Butcher' is a more apt eh?"
Kage asked with a smile tugging at his lips. "Yes Sergeant! Thank you Sergeant!" Slightly misty eyes quickly wiped by an exuberant Butcher.
More names were changed as Kage worked through those he thought deserving. Scarface became Fearless, Mouse became Fox, Slug became Swift and many more. Finally, it was down to the last one.
"David step forward! You came he as tiny and frightened thing. Earning your current nickname through your fight and, whilst maybe seeming like a compliment, I know it tore at you as it pointed out your height and weak frame.
As well as the shit ton of luck in winning that fight. But over time you changed and I'm not just talking about the physical ones!" Again another big laugh fell on the group as they were all in a relatively good mood from the new names.
"You became a leader who, instead of acting better than others because you excelled in all areas of training, you helped them and guided them as well.
You have proven yourself a leader, protector and teacher. Therefore you will be named Warden!" Arthur was taken aback by the praise as he took a second to register it all and see the others reaction.
All the others, even Goliath, had gazes that showed they were happy with the choice and words spoken. Tears moistened the corner of Arthurs eyes as a gentle smile formed on his face. He truly felt like he belonged, like he had finally found his family, in that second.
"Moreover..." Much to everyone's surprise, Kage wasn't done. " You have received your first orders . You will form a new squad that will be joining the Light Brigade in the next week, on the coast of Estrelia. That means that you will need a Corporal to lead you.
So, I along with Corporal Devon, have decided that young Warden shall be the one to lead you!" Kage let out this bombshell of a piece of news on the boys as he left them standing deadly still in shock.
Soon however, some of the boys that Arthur had helped and supported the most started to chant his name.
"War-den! War-den! War-den!"
the chant picked up pace with the others soon becomig frenzied as they shouted out his name. Arthur was encapsulated in shock hearing his name being chanted by the enthusiastic friends he now called brothers.
He couldn't hold back a single tear as they slightly pricked at his eyes. With the chant slowly dying down, Kage took out the uniforms that the boys had now earned for passing out, handing them all to each and every one of them like a proud father.
They were red jackets with white shirts and grey trousers. The lacing was simple as they were only new Privates and one Corporal.
Apart from that they had also been given the metal armour they still wore because most times Brigades were used to fighting with both rifle and spadroon, a light sword with a straight-edged blade, enabling both cut and thrust attacks.
The armour consisted of gorget, pouldrens, rebraces, vambraces, breastplate and greaves. They were also given a standard rifle with Arthur getting a pistol as well with a holster.
When Arthur wore it all he felt like he truly fit the image of a warrior now. "Alright then, well I think it is only fitting for young Warden to give a speech, eh Privates?" Kage said with a mischievous smile.
This smile was met with the others as they all yelled agreement. 'Shit' was all Arthur could think as his mind went blank trying to think of something to say, "Go on Warden, we're all waiting." Kage and the others encouraged with a shit eating grin. Biting the bullet, Arthur stood to the front and faced towards the others.
"When I came here I wasn't looking for anything other than a place to escape from the hangman's rope. I like most of you had no where else to run and came here with no hopes for finding any great friends or purpose. But hear I stand looking at men I see as brothers in arms! I would fight and die with a smile on my face by all of your sides! Even you Goliath!"
Everyone laughed at that, and even Goliath broke a small smile. He had started to cool down recently ever since Arthur had saved him from a stray bullet during practise. "And so I'm happy to lead you forward and hope I can bring us to a better future where our brotherhood is thriving!"
Arthur finished his small and impromptu speech. He had never given one before and the second of pause before Joyous rapture may have been the scariest seconds in his life!