Just as they had finished settling in the other flight members came cack from their lessons.
"So the rumours were true!!" A fifth year girl exclaimed.
"Yes, take a seat first years, we have things to tell you." Lorcan smiled.
"Oh and rules as well." Another seventh year said.
"Rules?" Lili asked as she turned to Celaena. Lili was exceedingly timid and had been targeted by the other classmates in the first year dorm. Maei had seen it and moved her group over to her to protect her from getting bullied.
"Yeah, rules. There are some unwritten rules. One that you are forbidden to discuss battle school methods to people who haven't gone through the process. So you can't tell your classmates anything that we tell you until after they have joined the flight system. Even then there are some things that are known to Alpha Flight only." Lorcan explained.
Simon raised his hand and Lorcan pulled his pad up so that he could find his name, "Yes Simon."
"Why did we have to figure it out for ourselves." He inquired feeling aggrieved to be punished since so many days.
"Simple," A voice answered from the door.
Everyone turned to the door. Standing there before the closed door was the Battle School Master. The first years jumped to their feet which caused Sol to grin.
"Lorcan!" He said in a mock angry tone. He knew better than to turn to his son. He knew that he must have left everything to Lorcan to handle. His son was not emotionless but lazy!
"Sorry Master. I haven't had the chance to tell them yet." Lorcan turned back to his new members.
"Sit"
Everyone sat down confused as to why The Battle Master was here.
"Each flight has a commander. A senior instructor who is in charge of the flight. Our Battle School Master is our flight commander. He will be in the common room during down times going over tactics or he will take down to the training room to refine your skills one on one."
Sol sunk into his chair comfortably [yes he had his own chair and no one was allowed to use it :)] and turned his attention to Simon.
"The reason we make you figure it out yourself is because we need you to learn to obey. Learning to obey without question is perhaps the hardest thing for most people. We are having problems with this years class a lot more than we have had in the previous years. Battle or any type of war is not easy. Some orders may not make any sense to you but there are reasons why the leaders made those decisions.
The number one rule for all leaders in The Empire is to make sure the people under them are safe before they start to defeat the enemy. We need to know that you can take orders well or you will be putting yourself in danger out there as well as your teammates which could not only be dangerous but, also harm the outcome of the battle."
Maei nodded, "Which is why you prompt us to choose our own leader and group."
Sol smiled at her sharp wit "But if we believe a group is unbalanced or has a bad leader we put them in situations which force them to change. We can't have bad leaders. It messes with the whole system and the environment. We wait until a good group is formed before pushing them in to a flight."
"So you believe we are a balanced group? In what way?" Maei asked. She was a little amazed by how involved all instructors were in making sure that every child received the education they deserved, while making sure they were taught important values as well.
In her past life while the masters were involved in making sure they practised, they never tought them what is right or wrong or the correct values. They had to figure everything themselves. It was also the reason why most people in her world grew up with twisted minds and values.
"We categorize students in to two subjects, Thinkers and Brawlers. You have to have an even mix of both to be able to compete for scrimmages. All brawl and no brain means there isn't any strategy while all brains means there is strategy but no power to carry it out." Sol explained.
Maeisha turned to her wing and studied them with that knowledge. She knew instantly where some of her members fell into. She was definitely a thinker as was Celaena, Massen and Simon. While Roi and Violet were brawlers. She wasn't sure about the others but they had time to learn as to where they would fit.
Sol grinned and teased them, "Yeah, Like you have been told. You are the first group ever to form a group in the second week. The record before that was in the fifth week."
"So much pressure," Roi was a little daunted.
"There is always pressure when you are Alpha Flight," Lorcan comforted him, "But you wouldn't have been put in Alpha Flight if the instructors didn't think you could handle being here. Or if you didn't have the potential. Those who go to Alpha flight generally go on to be higher officials or officers. You have all shown that potential through your test scores, ability and behaviour."
"Me too?" Lili hesitantly asked. She was none of the things most considered were inherent in those who became higher officials. They were bold, brave, and confident beings while she was timid the very opposite.
Sol stood and stroked her head lovingly, "You will be surprised Lili. We will teach you to be confident in yourself and remove the insecurities that are holding you back. This is your safe place and you can be anything you want to be here. All your flight members have your back."
Lili looked around and saw that no one was looking at her with derision or hatred. They were all smiling encouragingly at her, while her wing mates were cheering her.
She had finally found the place where she could be whatever she wanted....