"…"
"Ehhh…. Ahhhh…"
"Ahem." (*Clears throat)
With the tense atmosphere and encounters now settled. An odd voice suddenly peers through the crowd. Stealing the attention of each and every one of the top participants.
"Great… what now??"
"Hm?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"…"
Xavier thinks as everyone responds in tandem, turning their heads to face the direction of this voice, where they are met with the sight of a scrawny man with slicked back peach hair, wearing the Blade colours (dark charcoal grey) as he stands quite lazily before them.
"…."
"Ehhh… ahhh… Congratulations on making it to the Second terrain everyone…"
The man says rather unenthusiastically as his audience come to a standstill watching him ever so quietly
"It might be earlier than expected than… especially on our end… but the show must go on…"
The man says switching to an irritated mumble mid-way, before gesturing in a way to welcome guests but doing so lazily that the effect it gives off borders on the slightly creepy.
"We might even be in for a new record… "
The man thinks turning his gaze to Sierra and Jimmy
"Hm?"
Sierra exclaims when she catches his gaze as Xavier looks over at her confusedly
"Without further ado I will now proceed to give out the layout and ground rules of the next terrain, so I suggest you pay attention."
The man says with a short bow.
"Who is this guy?"
Xavier whispers to Jimmy who shrugs in uncertainty
"Hm??"
He turns his gaze to Sierra to indicate tossing the question over to her but much like all their encounters before, she ignores him entirely, simply looking away.
"Ehhhh…."
Xavier moans in disbelief at her cruelty
"…."
"So, like I was saying."
The man says, turning his gaze from the short interaction shared by Xavier's troupe
"For those that aren't aware of my identity my name is Klein Blanche."
"Current Overseeing Commander of all the Blade platoons and this terrains utility officer."
"The pleasure is all mine."
The man says bowing once more
"Now before I go any further, allow me to pass on the regards of the Damion for your valour and spirit for having made it this far."
Klein says gesturing outward in preparation for what is bound to be formal procedures…
"…"
"OH!"
Jimmy exclaims suddenly, in the midst of Klein's speech
"What? Remember who he is??"
Xavier asks curiously staring to Jimmy
"Yeah."
Jimmy responds in his mini-eureka moment.
"He's a member of one of the lower branches of my family so I didn't recognize him at first glance but he's the 'Unbound Commoner', Klein Blanche."
Jimmy says quite proud at his memory, but softer in tone as he digs through his mind.
"He was given that nickname by my brother, a long time ago when he headed up our training program."
He says softly as memories of a not so recent past come flooding in
"He made news at the time for being the first 'other' branch member to compete in the same trial as a member of the main branch."
Jimmy says
"And that's not all."
He adds as the man's identity becomes clearer to him.
"Despite not being favoured to go any further than the first trial, Klein actually went all the to the third."
"…whoa"
Jimmy says as Xavier mumbles a short exclamation of impress
"Doing so well in the final trial actually, that he almost made 'Unit's'."
Jimmy says
"Units?"
Xavier thinks confusedly
"Falling just short and becoming the Overseeing Commander instead, something that is by no means a small feat."
Jimmy adds, his tone and gaze much more serious and fixated on the Army Commander
"…"
"Uhhh… cool…"
Xavier says, his lack of knowledge on the matter muchly apparent.
"Atleast it would be if I knew what any of that means…"
Xavier thinks salty at Yasser's lack of preparation of his so-called prized pupil.
"OH!"
"Am sorry you probably don't understand a thing am saying huh?"
Jimmy asks chuckling a little embarrassedly to himself
"Uhhh… yeah…"
Xavier responds equally flush in embarrassment
"Sorry."
He adds softly.
"It's fine."
"You being from out of the Beneath and all I probably should've gone into more detail."
"Let me explain."
"Hmph."
Jimmy says smiling brightly as Xavier exclaims, nodding in attentive agreement.
"The Blades have an organisational structure similar to a military set up."
Jimmy says…
"It begins at the bottom with the platoons…"
After that are the Platoon Commanders, the Units, the Overseers, the Bridge, the Generals and finally the Damion (King).
The platoons are often filled with the entrants from the trials who couldn't make it to the second trial and beyond. However, these positions are not guaranteed. And part of the reason why utility officers are placed at every terrain in the first trial is to scout and pick out people who show enough promise to make platoons.
Besides that, platoons can also just about recruit anyone they find promising at any given time. Their flexibility allows the Beneath to always have a 'standing army' of sorts. At the ready to carry out orders from the inner domes at any given time.
The platoons are headed by the Platoon commanders.
Often consisting of three people. The Platoon Commanders carry and give out assignments at their discretion, but in line with orders from above, to their platoons.
The Commanders in question are ranked bottom to top with the Commander of the Standing Platoons and Guerrilla forces sharing the same rank at Second Lieutenant and their superior The Overseeing Platoon Commander sitted at the First Lieutenant rank.
The Commanders control the platoons, reporting and taking orders directly from the Units. The Squads that Xavier and the rest of the top participants are currently aiming for.
The Units, are broken down into three as well;
Squad Three, which is in direct charge of the first line of defense and the relaying of orders and management of utilities to the Platoon Commander of the Standing Platoons.
Squad Two, which is the second line of defense and relays orders to the Commander of the Guerrilla forces.
And finally, Squad One, which is in direct control of all the Blade forces and the last line of defense of the inner domes.
The Squads number quite small most times, but they're power alone rivals is said to rival that of ten or even fifteen platoons!!
Numbering only three or four per squad.
The units have often changed and being manipulated over the years, with the last regime (Yasser's) only containing one squad that numbered at four only.
Members of Squads Two and Three are ranked First Lieutenant to Captain with the leaders of each Squad holding the rank Captain, their deputy, Vice-Captain, and the other members First Lieutenant.
The leader of Squad One however, ranks at Captain Major. With their deputy sharing the same rank as the leaders of the other squads at Captain and other members holding the Vice-Captain rank.
The Units (Squads) answer to the Overseers, the Overseers to the Bridge, Bridge to the Generals and Generals to the Damion (King).
But the rest of that part will be explained at a later time.
"…."
"I see…"
Xavier ponders this newly attained knowledge before turning his head back to Overseeing Platoon Commander, Klein.
"… and so, it is in the Damion's best wishes that only the bravest and strongest of the participants qualify. Now without wasting your time any further why don't we get into it."
Klein says, understandably bored with his life after that speech.
"Eck."
"Sure hope I didn't miss anything important."
Xavier thinks staring at the rest of the participants who surprisingly hold extra attentive and serious facials.
"The Deadridge swamps are one of the trickiest places to navigate on the continent."
Klein says softly
"From the native beasts, to its illusory aesthetic… you'd be best served to keep in a straight-line while travelling through it lest you wanna get stuck here forever."
He says oddly unenthused
"Oh? Free tips huh?"
Xavier thinks at the gracious hint.
"… well, that's if you can find that straight-line that is."
Klein says giving off an ominous and almost sadistic grin.
"Erk."
Xavier exclaims in reaction to the grin.
"Travel, fight, camp… the terrain has no rules much like the last."
"But while we're on the matter I would like to inform you that after the pace you set in the first terrain the record for completing the first trial might be on the line."
Klein says turning his head to Jimmy…
"Hmph."
…Who exclaims with a proud smirk as all eyes are drawn to him
"If that truly is your goal then you should be aiming for half a day for this terrain and your next utility officer will meet you at your next checkpoint."
"The Cobra's creek."
"…"
Klein says with Xavier expression turning slightly cold and serious at the mention of the next checkpoint.
"With all that said and done, the rest is up to you."
He says gesturing away as Xavier turns his head and is met by a rather peculiar sight.
"…"
"Huh?"
"Isn't that…"
Xavier thinks
"Now I would wish you luck but Blades make their own luck."
Klein says grinning ominously
"It is…"
Xavier mumbles his tone somewhat stiffer
"May the all-knowing grant you his blessing."
"HEY M--"
"Dismissed."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BOOOOMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The air erupts in a sudden explosion as at just the sound of the word everyone departs at a ferocious speed in all directions!!!
(SHHHhhhhh!!!!)
Weighty dust particles make their way to the ground as the leaves on the trees shake from the sudden ghast of wind.
"…"
"…eh"
Xavier's jaw falls in an exclamation of obvious shock and confusion at his sudden abandonment.
"…"
"…"
-To Be Continued-