A slow clap echoed over the heavy breaths from the soldiers. Most engaged in battle, all but three lost, and many participated multiple times.
Emile individually treated each and every soldier, healing their wounds, returning their stamina, and replenishing their essence. He called forth the leader of Sam's team, a burly man that towered over Emile.
Dark skin, red eyes, and a scar that cut across his nose.
"Name?" Willow demanded.
"Lyle," the man replied.
Willow announced his victory and Lyle was designated to join Sam along with Roy and Emile. Afterwards, Emile took to center stage once again and announced the final trial for the remaining soldiers:
"With the Trail of Combat and Trail of Strategy complete, only one remains. As the final trial, I find it only appropriate that it be the hardest; as the rest of you failed the previous two, I suggest you give this last one your all. Also, this last trial will be open to all of you, not just the original thirteen, now eleven, who were brave enough to so kindly volunteer prior.
However—" Emile paused for dramatic effect, "you must enlist in the final trial without knowing its contents, for this is the Trial of Grit."
Emile stopped talking and murmurs quickly escaped from the soldier's lips.
"The Trial of Grit?"
"What is grit?"
"Are we doing it alone?"
Grit, although Emile is unsure of its origins, is a term he learned in school back on Earth. While some people may think of grits, the meal, Emile is using it as a synonym for tenacity, bravery, heart; the ability of a person to believe in themselves, to choose courage when faced against the unknown.
From what Emile has already said, the final trial is going to be the hardest. Whether it be a physical trial or a mental trial, the soldiers don't know. Whether it includes their Gifts or excludes them, the soldiers don't know.
All the soldiers know is that it will be difficult and given that they've already failed the previous two, do they have the grit, so to speak, to push past their failures and reach for success? Or will they let their past failures dictate their decisions and rot their minds, preventing them from accomplishing their innate potential?
Emile continued to remain quiet amongst the now rambunctious talk.
"Are you going to go?"
"Should I step forward?"
Emile watched and listened to them, waiting for the first person to step forward and then, they did. A hand shot up from behind the crowd, a woman, small and fickle, thin and pale.
She went around the crowd of soldiers and saluted, "I would like to take the Trial of Grit!"
The soldiers surrounding her stopped their conversations. Their eyes mutually followed her voice, and once they couldn't find her, they finally lowered their gazes to her height and found her.
"What's your name?" Emile asked.
"Lu!" She shouted.
"Congratulations Lu, you've passed the Trial of Grit," Emile announced.
Shell shocked, she kept her arm up in a salute as her body stiffened and her eyes glistened. And, as expected, her fellow soldiers around her exploded in outrage.
"Are you kidding me?!"
"That's all it took?!"
"It was just the first person?!"
Emile ignored their ramblings and continued talking to Lu:
"Now Lu, why did you step forward? You didn't participate in any of the trials thus far."
The girl stuttered. She began crimping the sides of her uniform and started swaying back and forth.
"I—I—I just thought m-maybe I had a chance, you know, if the last t-trial didn't have anything to d-do with fighting o-or thinking."
"I'm sorry?" Emile asked.
"I-I'm not v-very good at fighting o-or coming up-p with ideas, b-but I can do dangerous things b-because I d-don't feel fear."
"You seem pretty afraid right now though?"
"I-I was born with the st-stutter, b-but I'm not-t afraid."
Emile loosely examined Lu. She had straight, black hair with a crown braid flowing across her forehead. A small nose and soft, pink lips with dark brown eyes.
"This is ridiculous!" A man exclaimed from behind, "I challenge her to a duel for the position!"
Emile locked eyes with the man, tall but generic, and waited to see Lu's response before intervening.
"I-I don't really w-want to fight!"
Emile was torn. It was true Lu probably wouldn't be good for what he had in mind for these three chosen soldiers, but at the same time, Lu was the first to step forward. She completed the trial's requirements without the actual requirements ever being announced.
Although she wasn't necessarily fit for the job, Emile knew he couldn't appear weak. He couldn't submit to an outcry from the soldiers he was in control of, he had to maintain that control.
"For anyone that has an issue with this—" Emile projected his voice, "you are questioning the authority of your commander, me. If you'd like to duel for her spot, duel me."
Emile summoned his scimitar and slashed it down.
"Well—" he smiled, "any takers?"
The man who challenged her stood his ground. With the eyes of all his peers on him, he couldn't surrender now.
"I'd still like to duel."
"Very well," Emile sighed, "stand over there. Willow, proceed normally."
Emile and the soldier walked to their respective sides. As they prepared, a crowd of people flocked over.
The alchemists, some builders, word somehow rapidly spread that Emile would be participating in a duel.
Willow dropped her hammer and the duel began.