The new soldiers, their faces a mix of determination and fear, divided up in their hut grouping, four lines with room for one more soldier. The columns grouped, forming packs of squares, sweaty brows, and empty stomachs. Numb from mortality's alarms, adrenaline rip streaming through their veins, mixing with the tree blood, the young men dare not look weak in front of the Squad Captains moving along the rows. Each one lined themselves at the head of each group, with cloaks in hand.
Zeek stands in front of Kahn with the biggest smile on his face. He wants to laugh with excitement but holds it in. He has a squad of his own. Finally, with this, he becomes one step closer.
Zeek knows that getting a solid squad will increase his chances of gaining merit on the battlefield. Even if he has some dead weight...(>_>) (Jaz feels an itch on his back suddenly) Winning that duel secured him the squad of his choosing. Most squads only have one person with a Lift Rank of 2. The rest are ranked 1, some with a bright glow. This batch seems more promising with having 3 Rank 2s. The other squad captains could never guess he would get this lucky. But Zeek didn't bother to think about that. He has nothing on his mind but being the best, and he will put his squad through hell to become it, just as he learned from his Master.
Once the Squad Leaders finished moving to their positions. Official Rodow said, "Today, the whole village will be able to look at you and see the men you have become." The Squad Captains turn to their squad and hand each a cloak. In each cloak they gave, the words "A fine man you have become." came from them. The Official continued, "The village looks forward to the new lands, the new hope, and the new future you will open to Zune!".
Official Lord Zac returns to the stage. Official Rodow steps back from the center to let the Lord take the stage. "Normally, we would have you do mock battles between each other to see who the strongest squad is. But now is not the time for that. The time now is for battle. War has been happening while you have been here. Enjoying life with your brothers. Training so that you may join the rest of your brothers on the battlefield. To thank them for their sacrifice so that you may be here safe. HERE! SAFE! You do not need to be safe anymore! You have the blood of the tree in you! You have been given the blessing of our village! You are now men with worthy names of soldiers! The enemy has attacked our camps in the mountains. Killing your brothers as they sleep. THE COWARDS! We must march to meet them in battle, drive them back from where they came, AND DESTROY THEM! Stand firm, new men of Zune, and prepare for battle!"
The squad captains all had different faces when this news came out. Zeek's smile never changed. To him, this is a chance of a lifetime. Battle cries roared from the Captains, followed by the small men behind them. Official Lord Zac returns from the stage, and an officer replaces him. A younger-looking one than the other Officers. With a scar descending the middle of his neck and fierce orange eyes. His build is hidden behind the cloak that covers him. "You are now under my regiment! Squad Leaders! Report to me for marching orders! For the rest of you! Return to your huts, collect your things, and say goodbye to a child's life.