Our slow flight to the dining hall is spent discussing the best ways to pull off certain alchemical techniques, as well as what is really meant by non-specific words included in recipes, such as 'dash,' 'sprinkle,' 'mash,' and even 'crush.'
Dinner is spent reading, the night is spent on alchemy practice with Lector, breakfast is spent reading, my first two classes are spent lifting and running, my third is spent either dueling Lector or learning ever-more-obscure sword techniques, my fourth is spent practicing elemental techniques on my own, and again dinner is spent reading. And so, the remaining training time is quickly spent away as I devote all of my energy to obtaining as much power as possible.
The day before we are scheduled to leave, we have another large group training session, my fourth since coming here. Other than the first, a two sided siege, the second was a four sided fight on an open field, and the third was eight groups in towers in a game remarkably similar to capture the flag. As for the fourth, we are all waiting for it to be announced by General Lion.
Where in the past I had no care for these silly events, viewing them as mere interruptions to my training, I am rather looking forward to this one. Considering that I am leaving tomorrow, I have elected to view this as a final exam of sorts. And if I can have a bit of fun while taking it, well, why not?
I am not the only one looking forward to this event. Anticipating murmurs can be heard around me, with some daring to go so far as to be even called excited. Last month's event was particularly popular, such that, try though I might, even I struggled to not have fun during it. Whatever the case, it is certain that this month has something to live up too, though such seems a bit optimistic to me when I consider the bland competitions of my first two months here.
After getting our attention through his usual method - a method which I realize I may never have to experience again - General Lion begins to explain the day's competition. Well, after an announcement of course.
"First off, I would like to remind you that Corps 214 will be leaving tomorrow morning. Gather here at four tomorrow morning, as a reminder, you will be under Commanders Reinhart and Lector. For anyone unsure of their corps - which I sincerely hope is not the case - you can see the listings nailed to the wall there," he says, pointing to the east wall of the hall.
"Now, onto what most of you are waiting for: our large group training exercise for the month."
[It is quite impressive how they build excitement for something so mundane, by keeping it hidden and allowing excitement to build from anticipation. Certainly a good way of doing things, though. By making people excited over a mundane training exercise, they can be controlled at no significant cost to training. Yet, the military could never be accused of false advertising; they are always clear that this is only a training exercise. Clever, clever.]
"This month, we will have a two sided mock battle between two forces of equal power on an open field."
[That's pretty simple, but I guess it should be pretty fun still. No gimmicks, no oddities, just two equally matched forces to fight each other. Certainly good for testing my abilities.]
The announcement seems to be received relatively well; after all, nearly any possible large group event would be more interesting than the daily training routine here.
"The fields have already been cleared and cut down, so let us all go there now. Follow the commanders and I, and be [orderly] about it."
He emphasizes the word 'orderly,' making his intention to avoid a stampede abundantly clear. Following the commanders, soldiers make their way out through the massive doors. Not much wanting to get caught up in the commotion, I wait for most of the room to clear out before exiting myself.
Our massive group makes its way to the center of the compound, where a large area of grass has been cut down to make a field a half mile squared. We are then split up, this time according to our fourth daily instructor. Obviously this means that I am with Lector and his class. I note that Reinhart's class is on the opposing side.
General Lion then says something that drastically changes how I expect this fight to go: "Commanders associated with these classes shall also be participating. Now, group A, to the North end of the field; group B, to the South end."
[Commanders?! Wait this means that I will be fighting under Lector, good preparation for the future. More interestingly, this means that I will be pitted against Reinhart! This may be our final duel for some time, unless we have an opportunity to do so between actual assignments in the field. I better win this!]
While I keep my thoughts regarding this announcement private, those soldiers around me do not do the same.
"Wait! Did he just say that the commanders would be fighting? How can we do anything when commanders are involved? Even just one of them could wipe out a hundred of us!"
Apparently hearing the numerous complaints, General Lion again captures our attention through the release of his aura. Once everyone's focus is on him, he says "This is intended to most accurately represent a real battlefield. In large battles, it is standard practice for there to be a handful of drastically more powerful soldiers on both sides - even if we intend to minimize deaths in reality by sending in small groups of elite soldiers, the fact still stands that you must be used to fighting on a battlefield populated by warriors drastically more powerful than yourself. Now, no more complaints. The battle will start in thirty minutes, so get to your positions."
Though the complaints continue, the soldiers do as commanded, making their way to their assigned side of the field. I go with Lector to the North end of the field, as was assigned. Judging by the expressions on the commanders faces, I can only assume that they knew the plan to be fighting alongside their soldiers.
"Well, it seems as though I will be getting a good opportunity to practice fighting under you," I say to my master.
"Probably not, actually. We commanders established our plans for today's practice in advance, and so long as you are fighting as a magic swordsman, you won't be under my command; I am taking control over the pure mages, spellswords will be under commander Belfrost."
[Ah. So it would seem that I am under that fool who lost to Reinhart and yet still had the audacity to criticize my master. Heh heh heh… this should be interesting. Still, it is a shame that I will not be under my master; this would have been a great training opportunity].
Once our side has all gathered, the commanders split us up by our fighting style. Spearmen, swordsmen, archers, mages (further broken down by element or specialty), and magic swordsmen, alongside a few other, more niche groups.
As promised, I am under the haughty noble, Belfrost. Upon seeing that I will be among his soldiers, which are mostly talented nobles, he gives a barely audible snort, his eyes narrowing. [Oh? Am I not good enough for you?] I think, narrowing my eyes in response.
His disapproval becomes more pronounced, turning into a glare before he looks away. [Heh. The coward can't even match my gaze. I wonder what his expression would be if I really beat Reinhart? Perhaps that should give me some additional incentive to come out on top of our inevitable duel].
Once every soldier knows their commander, our leaders begin to establish our battle plans, most important among which is our formation. On a flat and featureless battlefield, formation is among the most important aspects. There is no way to hide a force, no location to occupy for advantage, no place for sneaky tactics.
Our strategy relies upon having a core of spearmen, with two wings of swordsmen to the sides and magic swordsmen behind, ready to leap into battle and engage the enemy at a moment's notice. Behind the melee troops are archers, ordinary and magical, as well as casters.
Our spearmen are our most numerous troops, and they come in two varieties. Our core of spearmen has two rows, with those in the front holding tall, rectangular shields and medium length spears. Those in the back row are armed instead with only a spear, though the spear is much longer than that of those in the front row. The spears in the back poke out between warriors in the front, their lengths calculated to create two overlapping layers of spears to be used against any who may approach. With how the shields are used, the spearmen core is almost fully defended from frontal attacks, and the full plate armor that they all wear will provide them with additional protection.
Our standard swordsmen spear out to both sides of the spearmen. Unlike the spearmen, who have the strategy of utilizing their armor and shields to form a slow-moving wall of death, the strategy of the swordsmen revolves around constant movement and challenging other swordsmen while avoiding enemy spearmen; thus, their armor is far less extensive, where it exists at all.
The small group of magic swordsmen, all of which are under Belfrost and of which I am a member, are behind the frontal troops. We are the strongest melee force, and are to engage in battle at our own discretion. Our primary task is to counter enemy magic swordsmen, but whenever we have the opportunity we are to remove swordsmen and break up spearmen clusters. Additionally, we may be used on occasion to break deeper into enemy lines and neutralize their casters.
Our archers serve the role of unleashing arcing volleys of arrows for the duration of the fight. Though the normal archers are unlikely to have major individual impact, they serve the valuable role of occupying our enemy's attention and slowing their advance. On the other hand, the magic archers serve an essential role, their arrows often able to pierce through even armor.
While it is standard practice for the shields of spearmen to be magic-resistant, to make their armor resistant as well would be extremely expensive. So, though they may be able to block our magic archers' attacks, they will have to be on the lookout for them. Furthermore, some archers are able to disguise their magical projectiles as regular arrows, meaning that to be truly safe the enemy must block every arrow, slowing their progress even more.
As for our casters, though only about sixty in number, they are the backbone of our forces. They are to aid in offense through their attacks, defense through summoning and forming shields, and any other imaginable role, from forming fortifications to healing.
Though it is against the rules to build any fortifications before the battle begins, plans are in place for walls to be formed across the battlefield as soon as the fight begins. Though these walls will limit our own troops' visibility, they serve our aims of focusing on advancing.
Our soldier's nerves seem to be much higher than usual; in our normal mock battles, deaths are exceedingly rare as, at most, only a handful of commanders involve themselves. Here, with over ten on each side, the risks of being caught up in an attack you can do nothing against is real.
One commander calms their nerves a bit by assuring them that the commanders involved in this fight will all try to minimize any casualties. After all, he explains, they gain nothing from us dying after putting so much effort into training us.
Of course, I am not particularly nervous at all; the odds of dying here for someone of my power, approaching the level of the commanders themselves, is slim to none. Besides, I will be on real battlefields soon; how can I worry over mere training?
Obviously I am not the only one to think this way. Those who complain and worry are almost exclusively new soldiers who have never seen a real battlefield, a small but vocal minority. Most soldiers here are veterans, training up before their next deployment, and to those who have fought on a real battlefield, the worry over a training exercise is minimal.