After hearing his new training schedule, Arthur was surprised to say the least. This schedule was ridiculous, he was expected to wake up at 5 every morning, go on a 2 kilometre run, have breakfast and then complete 'standard military training'. "It doesn't even say what that is!" Arthur was ranting to Lucas, clearly still annoyed at having to come here.
Lucas, however, just rolled his eyes, obviously not caring about the rigid schedule. "look, it may be... Strict, but if we win this war then we will finally have the same rights as the nobles!" Arthur, stunned by his friends hysterical outburst, couldn't form a sentence to respond to that. Even he had to admit that the rewards made this a war worth fighting." Fine... You're right, this 'training' as they call it, is worth it if we really do get equal rights." Arthur knew that anything he said other than that would just be ignored, and even though he may have overstated his enthusiasm, he did want to fight to prove his worthiness of equal rights.
Just as the two's conversation began to lull, a new man walked up to them," evening, you two the new recruits?" The mystery man, who was about 6ft in height, asked them, rather bluntly. "yes, sir. We are" Arthur responded for the both of them, not forgetting to add sir to avoid another awkward encounter. "Good, hurry up and unpack, after that get to sleep. As you came together, you two will be stationed together, so you'll train together too," the man informed them the second he got a reply, clearly not being one for introductions.
"Sir, uh, if you don't mind, what's your name?" Lucas asked, showing himself to be the abrupt one without etiquette. "Harry" The man said rather monotonously.
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After talking to Harry, both Arthur and Lucas quickly unpacked and promptly went to bed, wanting to get as much sleep as possible.
Once awake, they both wanted to go back to sleep, as neither one of them was accustomed to waking so early. They both were the sons of poor farmers, they still, however, usually only woke up at eight as this was when they were needed to help sow seeds and collect harvests on the farms they grew up on.
Lucas and Arthur met as children, years ago, when Arthur's parents brought the land available next to Lucas' parent's land. The two families immediately became friends, and often visited one another's farmland. Lucas, at first, disliked Arthur, but Arthur, after many months of persistently begging, got Lucas to play a game with him and the two had been practically inseparable since.
Lucas, being the first one out of bed, swiftly began to get ready, trying to be sure to get ready before the lieutenant arrived for their training. Noticing Arthur had drifted off back to sleep, Lucas, being a good friend, pushed him off of his bed, making him sit up on the floor straight after the rough impact. Throughout the entire tent, Lucas' laughter could be heard, him momentarily forgetting they shared this tent with other people.
From the far side of the tent, a distant, yet groggy "shut up!" could be heard. Lucas immediately sobered from his laughter, flashing pink in embarrassment. Looking down, he noticed Arthur, instead of scowling, had a smug smirk on his face, evidently enjoying his friend's embarrassment.
Once they both realised how little time they had, they rushed to get ready, not wanting to disappoint their commanding officer on the first day.
Just as they had finished getting ready, someone entered the tent. Instead of the lieutenant, as they were expecting, Harry walked in wearing a look of pure distaste on his face. He, evidently, did not want to be training the recruits. 'Great, it's the first day and the trainer already doesn't like us!" Lucas thought in exasperation, although not daring to say his thoughts aloud.
" Everyone up!" Harry shouted, "get in formation!" After he shouted this, a muddle of new recruits was seen in the centre of the tent, not even close to representing a line. "What the hell is this!? You call this a line?" He belted out, clearly dissatisfied. "Sir, with all due respect, it's our first day." Lucas said, trying to appease him. "What did you just say to me?" Harry, asked, not masking his arrogance nor his condescension. "Nobody in this platoon is to ever speak back to me! Do I make myself clear?" He said, outraged. "yes, sir" the platoon muttered in unison, dejected after their apparent failure of a simple task.