He set off the next morning, just before the crack of dawn with a warm meal bought from the tavern and his bag packed properly, "Good luck on your travels, young man," Albert waved as the stranger distanced himself with the Lone Oak. The older man smiled as the young man was leaving his home to chase a dream, something he had wished to do when he was young but never had the guts to do so.
Reynold's journey was slightly shorter than he expected as his map marker got closer and closer to Galewin and the signs for that city began to show up. He was getting near, "Only a bit more for Galewin," As he spoke out loud to himself, a group of young people, 3 men and a woman of around his age stopped and looked at him. One of them called out to him.
"Why are you heading to Galewin?" He turned and stared blankly, "We are going there too, to join the Dawn Legion."
"Me too."
"Join us, it'll make the end of this trip easier," Reynolds nodded and joined the group, "I'm Henry, you are?" Henry was a tall, built young man with a cleanly shaved chin, black hair and brown eyes. He looked similar to Reynold save for the clean shave that Reynold hadn't wanted to waste time on during his journey.
"Reynold."
"That is George, that is Yennett and that is Oscar, where are you from?" George was a shorter man, with blonde hair and green eyes but still looked built like Henry did. Yennett was a slender woman that stood slightly shorter than Reynold with long red hair and blue eyes. Lastly, Oscar was a large looking man, not very built but not fat either with a beard and very short brown hair. His eyes were green which made them stand out with the color of his hair.
"Ravenwood," The walking group looked at each other confused as Reynold didn't understand what was wrong, "Small town."
"Ah, we are from Sattethigh, the four of us."
"Why do you want to join the Dawn Legion?" Yennett asked, "How long have you been walking for to get here?"
"I wanted to join because they saved me as a child and I felt the urge to want to do the same for someone else," Reynold explained, "I have been walking for 6 days so far."
"For fame?" Oscar added before Reynold shook his head, "Glory?" Another headshake left him looking confused before he shrugged.
"6 days? We have been walking for 2," George commented, "Not feeling tired?"
"Obviously I am, but that is how it is going to be, I accepted that already as I began," The four others looked at each other and nodded, his convictions being very obvious and his path in life already carved out for him.
They arrived in Galewin as a small group as a harsh winter wind blew through the hill path and whistled loudly, "We are here, I think," Henry spoke as they were met by an impressive fortified city, "Galewin," A legionnaire approached them as they looked around in awe.
"Good afternoon, young people, are you looking to join the Dawn Legion by any chance?" They nodded and she smiled before gesturing for them to follow her, "With me, I'll bring you to the recruitment post," The city was busy with small groups of legionnaires gathering crates and loading carts while some departed, "We are trying to contain a breach in our usual lines," The veteran legionnaire explained, "There is usually less commotion around here," The group of fresh faces made some legionnaires joke or greet them cheerfully. They were the new generation of the legion and they looked so out of place as they walked into the recruitment office, the legionnaire stopped and saluted the older man standing in the room, "Recruits for the legion, sir!" She said loudly and looked forwards and slightly upwards, standing rigid and at attention.
"Stand down, thank you, Field Commander, you can return to your duties."
"Sir, yes, sir!" Her hand returned to the hilt of her sword and she left the building as the five young people stood nervously near the recruitment captain's table.
"That there is what you get after years of being in the legion, that woman is the field commander of the 3rd cavalry of the Dawn Legion, the Dawn Legion's fast, mobile, talented divisions that is currently resting," The man explained as he sat down at the table, "Step forwards," He indicated for Yennette to step forwards, "Name, age, place of birth, why you want to be here."
"Yennett Av, 19, Stattethigh, following in my older sister's footsteps."
"Good, step aside," She did as she was told and Oscar stepped forwards, "Name, age, place of birth, why you want to be here."
"Oscar Tolden, 20, Stattethigh, to live life differently than my parents."
"How do they live?"
"The Tolden family is a rich business family with connections, meetings and all the fancy things that go with it," Oscar replied, "I want none of it, sir."
"Good, step aside," The process repeated itself with Henry and George before Reynold stepped forwards, "I know you," He looked up at the young man as he stared back blankly, "Name, age, place of birth, why you want to be here."
"Reynold Iver," Before he could add his age, the recruitment captain cut him off.
"18, Ravenwood?" Reynold's eyes betrayed his shock, "You want to be here because the Dawn Legion saved you a few years ago."
"Y-Yes, sir," Reynold's mind made the connection as his voice had sounded familiar when he had spoken to the other legionnaire, "That is correct."
"Good, join your new comrades," The man smiled, his face now was pulled out from the depths of the young man's memory and his savior was once more standing in front of him but without being part of the cavalier division but as a recruitment officer, "Ah, now you remember," The young man nodded before a legionnaire walked into the recruitment post and stood at attention like the other had, "Good, legionnaire, bring these five to their new homes and get them to write their letters to their families."
"Sir, yes, sir!" A title replaced his name, as it had replaced the other woman's name and even the recruitment captain's name was now just 'sir'. It all seemed strange to the young man but he was quickly distracted by the fact that he had actually made it to Galewin and had a chance to join the Dawn Legion and fight against the dark lands to protect those who can't do it themselves, "Follow me," He gestured and the five followed him, "Welcome to your new life for as long as you last, departure from this job can come from many sources."
"That is sort of grim to start off with, no?"
"It is the truth, I am part of the 5th defense," He explained, "We are sent out when there is a need to hold a strongpoint from the dark lands or other foes."
"What do you mean, hold a strongpoint?" Henry asked.
"Outposts in the dark lands and other things of the sorts," He replied, "My division is currently at half strength from injuries and deaths in our last deployment."
"How many are in your division?"
"There should be 300."
"So 150 are left," He nodded before they stopped in front of a building that acted as a gate to more buildings, "Your home for the next weeks of training, drilling and all that."
"Thank you, um, legionnaire?"
"Any time, legionnaires to be," He saluted them and left as they moved towards the entrance of the building, the five fresh faced recruits looking around as if they were in a completely unknown place. Two legionnaires stepped towards them and did not have the same happy expression on their faces and in their place, stern faces with piercing observing eyes.
"You must be the new lot, join your comrades in the recruit barracks," The woman said with a loud and sharp voice, "Your training begins in 3 hours."
"What are you waiting for? Move!" The man added with a shout and the five of them hurried to obey their orders. It had already begun.