***
The next day. At the training ground, not far from the Bach clan's mansion, a solid crowd of teenagers had gathered. Most of them were eleven years old, some were older, but there was no one who lived more than fifteen.
On Aorzorun, only those who are already fifteen years old are recognized as adults, usually the age of graduation from the academy. It is believed that having lived so long, the user of magical energy has already learned enough to control their powers.
Demigods and magicians, regardless of origin, at the age of eleven, immediately after awakening, enter the academy — an institution run by an average clan. There are also elite academies, they are owned by the great clans, there are only twelve of them in the whole world.
Also, knights are still studying in the academies, but only on the recommendation, or if they come from any clan, even a small one. Of course, this is the prerogative of a small circle of people, and most knights are not allowed to enter the academy. Therefore, they have to join the squad of a clan, or for free bread, in the ranks of mercenaries ... In extreme cases, you can go to the robbers. The most talented fall into the squad of the middle clan, since the great clans simply do not need them...
The great clans are behemoths, often with long histories, vast resources, and many offspring who get the best of everything. Because of this, they are much stronger than their peers. Still, in addition to wealth and power, the great clans also have secret magical techniques and techniques that allow the user of magical energy, sometimes, to defeat opponents higher than their rank.
In a past life, Aaron was an exception, and his path was far from normal. He never attended any academy, he had no teacher or mentor, most of his knowledge was acquired by self-study or plundering the libraries of various clans, from small to great. In addition, it was not difficult for him to recreate many magical techniques and techniques, and even improve them. To do this, it was enough to have an ideal control of magical energy, and natural talent, which makes it easy to understand the principles of magic.
All this helped, without being afraid of the great clans, to engage in magical research, breaking the laws, outrageous, and ignoring the authorities. The great clans might have reasoned with an impudent necromancer, but no one ever did, many even refused to try.
Still, few people dare to fight the powerful demigod of death, because even if you manage to defeat him, you obviously cannot do without losses. The conclusion is simple, this will not bring any profit to the great clan, and vice versa, it can literally destroy it, because other clans can, without further ado, simply take and devour a weakened neighbor...
The only thing that Aaron was reasonably afraid of in his past life was the Guards of the Council of the Great Clans. Dangerous guys, a hodgepodge of representatives of the great clans who will give a light to anyone who thinks too much of himself. True, there is a fairly simple way to avoid encountering these types... In general, if you cannot defeat evil, then join it. A couple of concessions, a few missions completed...
— Aaron! shouted Balthazar. — You are listening?
«Yeah, sorry, I was wondering...» Aaron waved away, dressed in training clothes, and standing with his brother in front of a crowd of teenagers.
There were exactly a hundred, quite talented recruits who had not yet had time to join the squad. But for Aaron, these guys were like a mountain of gold... He already clearly saw the future in which these youths, having received the necessary knowledge from him, will turn into elite warriors, ready to fulfill any order of the Bach clan.
«You were gathered here for the sole purpose...» said the older brother, looking around at the even rows of recruits. — Undergo special training for joining a special forces unit. I warn you in advance, the training will be harsh... Only, this may be the last chance in your life to become something big, and not an ordinary knight commanding peasants in the war...
The teenagers did not particularly like the words of Balthazar, but their discontent quickly faded away, replaced by determination. It was not difficult to give motivation to future soldiers, these guys were specially selected, paying attention, first of all, to the presence of a smart head and ambitions.
Aaron needs precisely savvy subordinates who have a strong will and desire to achieve more than fate has given them. Other clans often try to keep people with such qualities away, or close by, but with an iron fist... They rarely get leadership positions in the squad. Ambition systematically develops into greed, intelligence into cunning, pushing for betrayal, strong will into patience to carry out this very betrayal ...
True, it is better with such shortcomings, but at least his subordinates will not be weak-willed, lack of initiative, stupid blockheads. The main thing is not to give the opportunity to develop a situation in which subordinates are ready to commit betrayal ...
«First of all, from this day on, you will not receive food, water, and shelter,» Aaron said, taking a step forward. "It's not that I, or my brother, wish you suffering... The thing is that such training is extremely effective for developing the spirit and gaining the knowledge that you will need to successfully serve in the special forces unit. For a whole month you will independently survive in the forest that is behind you. Each will be given one single knife, everything else you will have to get yourself ... In addition, this does not negate the fact that you will have to go through other training.
— Over the coming month, in addition to gaining wilderness survival skills, you will also be trained in hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, and a range of magical techniques and skills. Then, in the second month, you will be taught the use of magical devices, as well as various theoretical knowledge necessary for your future service. Balthazar continued, and then, after a pause, he added. «After that, ten months of practicing the acquired knowledge in practice await you ... You will begin to fulfill the duties of a special forces detachment, and at the same time continue to hone the skills acquired in the first two months of training to perfection.
A similar training plan was personally devised by Aaron, and it was rather unorthodox. Often, knights are taught the way Bradomir taught his grandson.
They are trained in the use of the sword, spear, and bow, for close, medium, and ranged combat. It is also necessary to teach the knight to run fast, cross terrain with obstacles, and ride a horse. This is the base, and this is how knights are trained in the squads of small clans. In the middle clans, hand-to-hand combat skills are added, as well as the simplest techniques for using magical energy, along with the same elementary theoretical knowledge about tactics and combat strategies.
As a result of such training, you get a universal soldier who is capable of a lot, but is no better than those of other clans... Therefore, Aaron decided to focus on training knights, who may not be so versatile, but in certain situations are much more effective .
The rule is that a specialized tool, in the right situation, will always outperform a general tool. For this reason, the Knights of the Special Forces, in Aaron's view, must be stronger than their opponents in close combat. And for this it is necessary to conduct training in hand-to-hand combat and fencing, along with the study of magical techniques and techniques, to create an even greater advantage over the enemy.
Knights are not magicians, and even more so not demigods, they are most effective in close combat. Also, Aaron sincerely believes that knowledge is man's great weapon...
Therefore, his dream special forces must have the necessary knowledge to survive in harsh conditions, theoretical knowledge of various kinds, and the ability to obtain information through the use of magical devices for this.
«I also want to please you all that two more people will go through this hell with you,» Aaron took the floor. «It will be me and my elder brother, heir of the Bah clan!»
— What?! — not expecting such a set-up, exclaimed Balthazar. — We didn't agree on that, because I still have a lot of things to do ...
The elder brother was quite surprised by such a proposal, in general, as were the recruits. Not knowing how to react properly, they managed to squeeze out a single hesitant nod, either out of approval or out of politeness.
«Things can wait,» the traitor waved his kind off. — We have to go through this training together with these guys, otherwise there will be no mutual trust and respect between us. And this is exactly what relationships are built on in the squad, which wants to always win, and not be trampled in the very first skirmish with the enemy ...
«Okay, that sounds unpleasant, but pretty cool,» Balthazar sighed, accepting the rules of the game. «But are you sure you should all be a part of this too?» Your brother is already an established fire demigod, it's not too difficult for me... But you haven't even passed awakening yet!
"It's okay, it needs to be done...