For the first time ever, I don't arrive early, instead arriving at roughly the same time as everyone else. Sir Lector looks a bit surprised to see me there; I know that he had not expected me to be in his class today, to be still out hunting monsters. However, he doesn't ask me about it.
When the time arrives for his class to start, he begins the day's instruction. I am already aware of the topic, as we practiced it extensively last night: maintaining control of elements at a distance. Still, I follow along in the exercises, happy to get any further practicing opportunities.
The lesson goes very smoothly - not even any dead students! - and continues until we are all dismissed for dinner. Of course, I stay behind to talk with my master.
"I heard this morning, after you left, that that foolish swordsman [requested] the scorpion extermination mission. I must admit, when I said that you'd probably be fine, I wasn't expecting you to be going up against such fearsome foes. Still, apparently things worked out in the end, which is a relief."
"Well, they certainly didn't work out smoothly. I am ashamed to inform you that I was forced to use the healing potion you gave me. I cut off the elder scorpion's stinger without careful consideration and was drenched in its highly acidic venom."
"Well, at least you are alive. It would be a shame to have taught you so much just to have you die."
Recognizing that he isn't going to berate me for using his precious potion, I change the subject. "Master, during the fighting I received a new skill, titled 'venom,' and I'm struggling with finding out how to use it."
"Venom, eh? A normal human body has no way to make use of that skill," he says, dashing my hopes. They are temporarily revitalized when I hear him continue "however, there are certain skills, and even evolutions, that one can acquire or undergo to be able to employ it. For example, the skill 'stinger,' will cause a stinger to grow on the human body. Of course, it is unobtainable through natural means and has only been brought about through the experimentation of artificers. Alternatively, the metamorphosis skill can, at a high enough level, allow one to add body parts capable of delivering venom, or even modify their own. Also, the transfiguration branch of magic can allow one to permanently take on an animal form, and one could become an animal capable of delivering the venom. And, let's not forget the possibility to evolve into a beastman variant adept with venom. Of course, every one of these methods has significant downsides - yes, even the metamorphosis skill, which has the downside of being very hard to acquire - so the general consensus is that the skill is too difficult to actually employ. It's actually a bit of a shame that you didn't get the poison skill, as that one is very useful. Does that all answer your question?"
"It more than answers it, thank you. Also, I've been meaning to inform you that I am unable to read, something that I didn't really think about when accepting that book you gave me earlier."
"Oh, I guess I should have expected that. Hmm… to be honest, the written language isn't [that] hard to learn… I suppose we could devote an hour a night to learning it. If we do that, you should have adequate understanding to be able to read to an acceptable degree before you set off. Does that sound good?"
"It sounds excellent, thank you master."
"It is not a problem. I, too, was unable to read when acquired by my master. It was a great hindrance in my training until I finally abandoned my pride and asked for his assistance."
"Well, I am thankful nonetheless."
At this point, we are nearing the dining hall, so I move on to the last question on my mind. "One last thing, before we part ways for dinner, master: what happened to the soldiers too cowardly to go with us in our monster hunting today? Over eighty percent stayed behind and I have yet to see any of them since we got back."
In response to this question, he only sighs before replying "you'll find out soon enough."
We say nothing more to each other as we enter the dining hall and split, I heading to where Jorgenson usually sits and Lector heading to his place at the commanders' table.
I take my seat next to Jorgenson, hoping to continue my long running interrogations regarding the functioning of this world. However, before I can ask him anything, he starts talking. "That was very impressive swordsmanship that you demonstrated against Reinhart; even without magic, you are already not too far behind him in capability. Do you think that you could… you know… teach me sometime?" he asks hopefully. "I didn't enjoy the experience of being a burden on the battlefield, dragging down my comrades. And I figure you're so capable with the sword, and…"
"No," I interject, cutting off his rambling. "I would, but I simply don't have time. All time that I don't have scheduled away is spent privately training under my master. I'm sure that if you requested his aid sincerely, Reinhart would at least consider it. Alternatively, you could request instruction from one of the other half dozen swordsmanship instructors around here, if you dislike Reinhart that much. Or, you could just do as he recommended, actively training on your own."
Perhaps I was a bit harsh there, but all I could see when he made his request was a selfish monster trying to eat away my limited time to grow stronger. Maybe in his mind I was already strong enough, but I have to disagree. My goal is to defeat death itself, a goal for which a truly monstrous amount of power is required.
[Oh? Could one argue that I'm being selfish, prioritizing my own goal above others' wellbeing? Well, perhaps one could. The root of all action is selfishness, and for me selfishness is simply stockpiling time for use in becoming more powerful. For another, to be selfish may be the pursuit of the good feeling gleaned from donating to charity, or helping someone. In the end, all human action is taken to pursue one's desires, and I refuse to feel ashamed for blatantly recognizing and accepting that!] A reasonable train of thought? Perhaps not, but whoever said madmen must be reasonable?
"Yeah, that's alright. Perhaps I will use that idea of yours to find someone else here willing to teach me."
"Well, maybe you could be asked to be placed under a different swordsmanship instructor? If you really find Reinhart to be so insufferable, it could be worth a shot."
"Yeah… I'll think about it. Anyway," he continues, changing the subject, "do you know what happened to those who stayed behind this morning? I've been wondering ever since we got back."
"Yeah, I was wondering as well, so I asked my master on our walk over. He just cryptically replied that I'd 'find out soon enough,' and that was that."
"Well, whatever it is, it can't be anything good. I really hope that their punishment is not too harsh. Remember, Reinhart said that the standard is execution… but there's no way that they'd execute eighty percent of a class for refusing to participate in a foolish suicide mission… right?"
I feel no need to respond; we are both fully aware that the answer to his question does not bode well for those soldiers too cowardly to participate in the day's mission.
Soon thereafter, our question is fully answered.
When most people have finished eating, General Lion rises from his seat at the head of the commanders' table and customarily releases his oppressive aura as a means to get our attention.
Though I have experienced this aura of his several times prior, it still is enough to freeze me in place and cause me to break out in goosebumps and a cold sweat. [Honestly, it seems a bit unfair to subject us to such a harsh method of getting our attention. Surely a magical projection of his voice would be nearly as effective; it's not like any soldier would dare to ignore him if he knew that he was trying to get his attention.]
He begins to talk then, and I am careful to listen closely. "First, our general announcements, of which there is only one: we would like to remind you that the large group combat exercise will be taking place the third day from now. Now, as for more specific announcements…" He motions for something, and the door to the back of the platform is flung open.
Several masked men wheel out portable cages packed full of people, many of whom I recognize from my swordsmanship class. They have evidently been treated pretty roughly based on their injuries, and more than a few tears can be observed on their faces. A sinking feeling arises from the pit of my stomach as I realize with certainty that they aren't going to be let off on account of an incompetent leader trying to kill them.
I look over to Jorgenson, and find that he is staring up at the stage silently, his face perfectly blank. [Well, at least he's not freaking out], I think, returning my focus to the stage as General Lion returns to his 'more specific announcements.'
"These individuals assembled here today, individuals, I say, for they have been stripped of whatever titles they may have had and are no longer fit to be called soldiers, have all been found guilty of insubordination and cowardice and have been sentenced to death."
The assembled soldiers gasp out in shock; from the surprised murmurings, I quickly gather that so many being sentenced to death is a never-before-seen anomaly. [Perhaps because Reinhart is a never-before-seen tragedy of an instructor?] Any respect I had developed after seeing Reinhart's teaching skills this morning quickly fades away as the consequences of his actions are clearly displayed.
My Wrath quickly begins to act up as well, compelled to bring an end to this unfairness. However, I have grown rather used to this feeling so it is no real trouble to suppress it.
Lion continues, "These offenses are incredibly severe, and each undermines the authority of this military. I must admit that this is by far the most cases that I have ever had to deal with in a single day," – I catch him casting a sideways glance at Reinhart – "but it is hardly my first time having to punish cowardice. So, as you witness these executions being carried out tomorrow morning outside the dining hall, keep in mind that we as a military will ensure courage by making sure the alternative is not an option.
"I must admit, it pains me whenever we must carry out executions of our own soldiers. We are in desperate need of more warriors to fight the Arenese aggressors, and every soldier that fails to make it to the battlefield harms our cause to some degree. However, cowardice in the hearts of our soldiers is the greatest weakness that we can possess as a military force, thus it must be corrected. And, to ensure these corrections, we have been forced into executing these men tomorrow. Now, that is all for this day's announcements. You are dismissed."
With that, he motions again and the prisoners are wheeled back out the way that they entered. Once he is done, conversation immediately erupts among the gathered soldiers. 'I wonder what they did,' I hear one man ask, to which another postulates 'It must have been pretty bad to warrant a death sentence. If I had to guess, they probably refused an assignment that they deemed too imposing.' The first again replies 'must have been pretty imposing to risk death,' after which they have moved too far away to any longer make out what they are saying.
I just sigh, before getting up to leave. I try to avoid catching a glimpse of Jorgenson's face, but what I do catch of his expression is about what I'd expect someone who just learned of a mortal injustice targeting his comrades.