"Nine-hundred Fifty-Eight of Honkasūri! Today is the first day of your Military Trēningu. Miritāri Rekuruto or Mikuruto, that is all your official name starting today! Our first day of training begins tomorrow! May the First King guide you all!" Wan Kō Siksukī awakened the Zōjin People who desired to continue the training: their thoughts once again slide out of their tongues as they walk back to Honkasurī.
'Ughhh my back. . . . Got to hide this from others.' "We got one day to rest, roysans."
"Huh? What's does 'Roysan' mean again?"
"Are you a wood-hugger? Heh, don't tell him, roysa—"
A large Shadow appeared behind their backs.
"It means 'Boy' right? "
". . . You didn't have to tell that to this wood-hugger, Dan Dū."
"I know that wood-hugger means 'Idiot'. Chuckles. At least I didn't lose ten times straight in the previous training duels."
"What? Did you say something, short Te'k—"
Hit in the face, down flew the Thin-Bodied Rōjin into the muddy grassland, unawakened.
"Sempō Loser. You should've chosen to be a Watch Unit if you keep using your mouth to fight."
The rest of the Mikuruto walked past the Thin-Bodied Rōjin whilst shaking — his face was bent due to the dealt punch. Dan Dū and the others did nothing but whisper among each other.
"Cold Shits. That's Ridākurashā, I heard that he was the one who had the best record in our previous training."
"Correct, Dan Dū. That young rōjin had Twenty Wins, Zero Losses. I don't even know why the trainee chose to fight the Kojin rather than him."
"So uh, we are going to leave him there?"
"I don't know, but I do want to let my throat further heal in the city as soon as possible. That Coal-Kojin really pierced that wooden dagger deep in my left neck."
"Just leave him be, Dan Dū and you all. That stick-roysan can find the trail since I'm the 'idiot' and not him."
◆
The zorian evening went by and the Mikuruto cherished their one-day vacation. They either snored through, drank out, reunited, or became a tale of the fallen. Little Legs began moving as fast as a hare, hands away from the sleeping stomach, height was four feet tall but the sight was ten feet above. The Coal-Kojin dashed through her so-called home: it was the same dirty corner as ever. Her body dropped to the floor of warm soil, greeting her return for the last time she would lay upon it. Breeze glid through the Coal-haired girl's beige skin causing the chills. However, she knew its minuscule feeling compared to taking on the Sikisukī's short sword blows. Attempting to think about that duel, her eyes gave up until mini-snores were left heard throughout the night.
◆
Morning shined through the Military Recruits where they marched back to the training camp far to the north of Honkasūri. They seemingly again talked about a variety of things while their body ignores the historic fatigue enveloping them.
"Not this shit again, let's just walk Quietl—"
"Hey did you know that Wan Kō Siksukī saved our village once?"
"Yeah, she's steaming hot. Those pink lips of hers seem squishy."
"Roysan . . . Stop being a pervert and fix this damn door!"
"What the? What's with these conversations right no—"
"I said NOT this SHIT again, let's JUST walk QUIETLY, OKAY?"
Arrived at the Training Camps in just nearly five hours, they felt a bit of accomplishment compared to their first march. The Military Recruits begin their training after the sun appeared. Muscles tore and bones broke but kept reforming into finer ones as the days end one by one. Intense exercises, teamwork drills, and duels began to pave through the Mikuruto. Bird-like creatures chirped softly; another typical period for the animals around the grounds of training.
◆ ◆ ◆
On the fiftieth sunrise in zorian time,
"A single event, this is the only event that all of you are to experience today! No training today!" the Siksukī continued giving the bunch of trainees a guess what it is for a brief mome—
"It is the duel between Dagger Kojin against Arrow Kojin! Long Range versus Short Range! the last roaring words that Wan Kō released.
The atmosphere shifted into something out of ordinary. Recruits who joined the military were about to witness their first duel between the best Dagger Cub confronting the top Juvenile Archer, both originating in Honkasūri. Both of the fighters had been given to warm up by showcasing skills. Proving that she's the best among dagger Mikurutosu, Coal-Kojin carved through the bark of a nearby tree: the view was nothing but gashes that happened under ten seconds of hailing swings. Wan Kō Siksukī began talking casually to her fellow subordinates about Coal-haired Child's performance.
"Solidly, an attack with that much damage under twelve seconds. Isn't that worth witnessing?"
"Wan Kō, you're better than that when you were a little girl or kojin like her."
"Yeah quit praising her too soon, Fesukā.
Wan Kō glares her eyes, "Oy, don't call me "Fuck Face" casually here."
"Heh, why not, Fesukā— wait look over there."
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Bows pierce deep through the trees like a person's skin, leaving the bird-like creatures flying away from it.
"Shitē, her archery reminds me of Ju Fyon Wanugō."
A subordinate of similar ranking reacted, "First is that you said 'Fesukā' to Wan Kō Siksukī. The 'Shitō' wasn't really a concern for the second. It was the fact that you compared her archery to the best of not just Okonfē, but the best archer Rējin of all three kingdoms in existence."
"Eh? What I said was a joke for Te'ki sake. And what's with the 'Rējin' or 'Female Zōjin' emphasis? Are you a Te'ki feminist or something?" she placed her face near her, taunting her fellow Seburō.
"Shut your lips, it's almost starting" as Wan Kō and her arguing subordinates observe the heat-rising fight.
Making Honkasūri a reference direction of the south, the northern lands near the camp were packs of jade to emerald-colored trees. Shrubs were shaking as different animals inhabiting them. Then a time came — a pair of puny hands loom from a bush. It was twitching like a corpse that was awakened from its lunatic daydream. Pale brown in color, its fingernails were slowly slipping down and if it weren't for its gloopy blood, it would fall straight to the ground. Slowly, hands began moving in a freeform matter; words materialized out of thin air. Within seconds, the message was freshly made before the needles were pulled back into the darkness. It stated, "This duel's going to be quick hehe . . . and a little fucking noisy." None of the Zōjin noticed the unknown due to the heavy pressure between the two fighters.
The Dagger Kojin was a hundred steps away from the Juvenile Archer. Her raisin eyes met the Archer Kojin's eyes of pecan color despite the range in between. Her blade at this moment was an iron dagger — triangular with two sharp edges and one circle hole on its ricasso. On the other hand, the kojin with Pecan eyes holds her bow firmly and then lowers it. The crowd mixed with Mikuruto and Trainer Subordinates made internal thoughts among themselves.
'One-sided, despite the kojin with the dagger having superior skills, I don't believe she'll be able to dodge Sei Wen's arrows.'
'It's going to be a balanced battle." Achoo! "But I'll put Dagger Kojin with the slight win.'
'The girl with the archer is taller and about two years older than her opponent based on her looks. She even defeated all of her opponents in archery during the previous duels. I won't be so sure about a full-fledged victory though.'
'Boring, this is why I hate being in Wan Kō Siksukī's squad. Always ending up here in this training camp and watching boring fights.'
'It's beginning.'
Coal-Kojin's little feet stomped the ground which flew a hefty amount of dirt with each step. Sei Wen instantly released a hail of arrows at her dashing foe. However,
"Huh!?" The Archer Kojin Sei Wen's body went to a full stop after witnessing the Coal-Kojin was already ten steps near her and what she had done to her arrows in those ten seconds of simultaneous harassment.
Shank!
Pecan Eyes of the Juvenile Archer melted upon seeing the spurting blood flowing from her arms — the right hand of Archer Kojin fell off the ground while three remaining fingers from her left were barely clinging. Every being around the camp heard her scorching scream. The Mikuroto were shivering with sweat while the Officers sprinted as something unpleasant was about to happen. Coal-Kojin's dagger was about to make an additional blow worth splitting her opponent's eyes into two. Before such a thing would occur, a rock was thrown into the Dagger-Kojin's head in an instant. Her raisin-colored eyes felt the disturbance and struck the rock with the blade tip near the holed ricasso. Upon deflection, four officers grappled her to the ground, ensuring she was unable to perpetrate any further.
Wan Kō Sikisukī yelled, "The Duel is over!" while Sei Wen the Juvenile Archer continued to scream in agony for the next minutes to come.
◆
The wind of the bright night whistled as the Squad Leaders along with Wan Kō Sikisukī shared their thoughts full of confusion,
"Did . . . she deflected two arrows. . . ?"
"Yes, she did. She even catches one of them before releasing it quickly. . . . That's a Rookie, right?"
"One arrow shot would've decided the battle and immediately bring the Dagger Kojin to the medic for healing. But instead, she's unscathed from any arrows shot at her . . ."
"Shitē . . . I don't think I could do that even now. She can definitely give Ju Fyon Wanugō some limitless crops if she trains mo—"
"NO. But for a trainee to do that, she can definitely surpass any of her class across the whole Uzōjin."
"Solidly yes." Wan Kō spoke. "Her ability to intercept arrows is something unusual for a homeless person. She can't or won't speak about her origins. So our only hope is to ensure she gets enough training to become a formidable warrior in the future."
Everyone agreed on their own accord on what their Commander stated was indisputable.
"Also, take Sei Wen back to her family, she can't use her archery anymore after losing her right hand and left fingers. Ensure her proper treatment and return her safely." The Sikisukī added.
◆
As the midnight gazed upon the exhausted Mikuroto, one had her raisin-colored eyes slightly open. Feeling the grip of her left hand, she rewinds the scene where she slices the hands of her recent foe. The dagger was quite hefty for her age yet the Coal-Kojin swung it through the duels as if it was a mere plaything. About an hour later, her lungs unchained all of her gloom with one exhale: she unsheaths the dagger in her cloudy mind then sheaths it once again. Fading sights emerging from her iris, the child with the raisin eyes slept with her coal-colored hair scattered on the ground.
◆ ◆ ◆
Days continued its run for forty-nine laps. The remaining nine-hundred Military Recruits were divided into two groups and were led by actual squad leaders to order commands from one group. Weapons of wood with the weight of real weapons were used by the Honkasūri Mikuruto. The aspiring soldiers fought hard with each other until the clash of two fighters paved the way for the others.
Thump!
Coal-Kojin was pushed backward after that encountering strike. The crowd of Mikuruto paused their actions and encircled a ring for the two arising competitors. Their mouths and minds were emptied with silence, ready to be filled with another breathtaking scenery. The coal-haired girl heard her opponent's words,
"My twentieth day of birth is around two years from now. Beating you death-near would be an early gift then, Tē'ki kojin." the young rōjin who was yet to be defeated from his duels released a taunting smug.
A hundred twenty seconds of clashing made the watching Mikuruto stand still with a deep gaze. Dagger Kojin had more numbers in dodging the Ridākurashā's heavier blows. Another round of engagement started to give the two fighters injuries of hindrance; they were both starting to lose breath. Ridākurashā had two broken fingers on his left while the Coal-Kojin have broken three on her right.
Clank!
"Continue!" Wan Kō Siksukī roared at the two opposing foes after dropping blades of fatality.
By picking up actual weapons in their resumed fight, more experienced medics were preparing as Ridākurashā had a fresh margin on his left outer forearm while the Coal-Kojin had a lightly-lacerated right leg. Despite the injuries, the two continued unt—
"Inform! Ryō Ken Wanugō is approaching the training camp!"
All of the Zōjin stopped, their eyes enlarging at the shadow of an enormous predator approaching. All the squad leaders along with Wan Kō went into a rectangular formation in the span of five seconds. The Wanugō laid down his words,
"The training is now complete! All graduates must have their respective units by tomorrow!"
All officers with at least five hundred units in the camp went to the main circular tent — a meeting was held. With the confusion swirling inside the minds of the Mikuruto, they were informed by Jo Rā Eitorā that the nearby towns before the fortified city, Tsushido, were captured by one of the enemy kingdoms, Ogōshi. Additionally, another city named Marufotu was reclaimed by the same opposing kingdom and thus more soldiers are needed to support Okonfē. The two dueling foes were immediately picked up by the medic for treatment.
◆
The night decided to check the two fighters who had more serious injuries than any other fighter dealt that day. Ridākurashā slept with his light eyebrows touching each other, pissed. Coal-Kojin, on the other hand, stared blankly while lying down. She felt it, the burning pain slowly disappearing due to the application of the best medicine on her previously lacerated right leg. Her raisin eyes were ablaze with hope, eager to show her people that she wasn't the person she previously was during her luxurious days.
◆
Morning walked in front of the Mikuruto as they were in formations based on their chosen unit type. Their armor was all light as one would need to buy or achieve higher ranks to gain better equipment. Then came the announcement.
"Mikuruto, Rising Sun! Congratulations on completing the One Hundred Day Military Training!" Wan Kō Siksukī shouted. "Five Hundred Seven 'Fixed', Three Hundred Twenty Three 'Centered', and Seventy Eight Special Units! You may now serve the kingdom as official soldiers of Okonfē! May the first King guide you!"
Those were the last words that they used before departing: the Fixed Units are the ones who have a fixed position in an army till their retirement, the Centered Units defend the cities near and at the capital, and the Special Units whose task is more vivid and has the ability to join different armies to aid the main force.
◆ ◆ ◆
One day has gone by since the graduation of the New Soldiers. Units in the special category talked about each other,
"Sighs. At last, I don't feel the like a breathing corpse anymore with that insane trēningu."
"Uh yes, but we still don't know who that kojin is."
"To think she would join the Supeshāru Unit."
"Suitably though, she's perfect for the Special Unit with her insane amount of skills."
"Yeah . . . Catching an Arrow is something only a highly trained warrior could do."
"Or maybe gifted? Who knows. She isn't talking anyways."
"Or maybe both?"
. . .
"All of you, stop chatting and get on the carriage now. The urgent aid of Ryō Ken Wanugō's subordinates needs quick forces."
"Yeah, I've heard it's a Tsugā who we are to serve right now."
"Correct, he holds about Twenty-thousand Soldiers and is placed on the Second Shield City."
"Second Shield City?"
"Tsushido, roysan."
"Oh, that's what it meant."
The Supeshāru Units brought their long-lasting conversations in the moving carriage. Eyes lingering through the scenery of crops and grassland, the Coal-Kojin looks back at the shrinking Honkasūri. It's her first time leaving the city for the purpose of war. Reflecting vague memories of her smeared past, she looks away from the city with a quick turn. The last remaining hesitation wasn't able to keep up to her carriage made of absolute resolve. Carriages were drawn by four-legged creatures resembling a horse. However, small spikes are found on its forehead vertically before the muzzles reside with thick-skinned legs and a razor-sharp extending tail when hostile. Colors vary from different shades of brown to a height of six feet. Aggressive as they can be, these are highly trained that exhibited both dragging heavy carriers and are prepared for war — the Horusu.
◆
Trots and breaks led the seventy-eight Juvenile Special Units to arrive at the Southern Gates of Tsushido under a day. They chattered with each other about the trip.
"Woah, we came here quite faster than the Fixed Units of our batch."
"We're not called 'Special' for nothing, roysen."
". . . Confused with those variations. Sighs. I still can't get that 'roysan', 'roysen', and even 'roysu' just means boy or guy."
"Same."
"You two are just Sempōsu."
"Huh? What did you tell us—"
"STOP. I'm tired of you Tē'kī idiots making a fight full of shit talk."
. . .
All the Supeshāru shut their mouths to the fullest as they accepted Ridākurashā's polite advice. The other carriage dropped the once aimless girl that now has one current aim in her life — defeat her enemies with all her might as Tsushido welcomes her.