My face turned ugly, and I became furious as I looked at the inner city.
Unlike the outer city, people here wore beautiful clothes with no signs of hunger or thirst. Their eyes only showed contentment and joy as they walked on the beautiful streets.
The houses here were made of stone with decorations adorning them. There were even restaurants and shops, whereas the inhabitants of the outer city obtained their needs through bartering, lived in houses that fell apart every month and needed constant repair, and went whole nights without even a drop of water or food to stave off their hunger. During the rainy seasons, the roads turned into mud, making it impossible for them to leave their homes and perform their duties.
Whoosh!
I suddenly felt several weapons pointed at me, and even a dagger was at my throat.
Four people raised their weapons at me; they were the same people I noticed before entering the outer city, except for the brown-haired woman. The others had their weapons pointed at me, looking at me cautiously.
'Did they sense my anger? Now that I looked at them closely, I haven't seen these people before in the outer city. People of their strength, I would have noticed them quickly.'
I thought calmly as I looked at them.
"What are you doing there? Why are you pointing weapons at someone with you? Lower your weapons immediately, or you will be excluded."
A three-star trainer came towards us quickly, reprimanding the people around me for aiming their weapons.
The four lowered their weapons and moved away from me but still looked at me cautiously.
"Why didn't you join them?"
I asked the brown-haired woman who was the only one who didn't raise her weapon at me.
"Why? Is there a reason for me to join them?"
She looked at me, puzzled by my question.
'Huh, her answer is logical but she's strange.'
"My name is Ravina Eversong, and I forgive you."
"Caden Mort, and you forgive me for what?"
"For stealing glances earlier."
She smiled, giving me the reason for her forgiveness.
"I wasn't stealing glances, I was observing the people who would be joining the army, just like you were, Miss Peeping Tom."
I answered calmly as I continued walking to follow the others.
"Hey, you shouldn't talk to a girl like that."
She continued to walk beside me, complaining about how I spoke to her until we reached a small fort.
The fort's gate was open with people going in and out, some nervous, some indifferent, and others listening seriously to conversations.
We entered the fort behind the trainers and stood in a large courtyard.
'This place looks big from the inside.'
We were standing in a large courtyard in the middle of the fort, with many pathways around.
"Attention, everyone!"
Suddenly, a man with a four-star insignia on his shoulder stood on the wooden platform in front of us.
After everyone calmed down, we turned our attention to him, waiting to hear what he would say.
"From now on, you are the 121st batch of recruits for the army! Your current number is 102 people; only 10 of you will become official soldiers."
He paused to let us absorb his words before continuing.
"Training will last for three months. After the three months, there will be a test to determine who will succeed and who will go back home."
"In conclusion, know well that the army has the highest mortality rate, so anyone who wants to stay here must not fear death at all. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good! The trainers will now take you on a tour around the fort, and in the afternoon, we will begin training."
'So, only about 10% will be accepted.'
We followed the trainers who took us on a tour around the fort.
"Here's the dining area."
"Here are the sleeping quarters."
"These are the leaders' offices, no one should approach here until you become official recruits."
"Alright, line up! You will be assigned to the sleeping quarters, women in one line and men in another."
We lined up as instructed and waited our turn.
"Caden Mort! Room number 4."
I headed to the sleeping quarters and started looking for my room.
'Room number 4, here it is.'
I opened the door and entered.
It was an ordinary room with four beds and a simple desk in the middle, and a bathroom to the right.
I sat on the first bed to the left, directly behind the window overlooking the training ground.
I put my bag containing my clothes and belongings under the bed and lay down to rest for a bit.
After a few minutes, the door opened, and three people entered.
One of them was a man who looked to be in his early thirties and had a bow on his back.
"It seems the fourth person was already in the room before us."
As the three people entered, the man in the lead spoke, with black hair and looked to be in his mid-twenties.
I adjusted my position and looked at them as the man approached me.
"Hello, my name is Lucas, pleased to meet you."
"Caden Mort."
I shook Lucas's hand as he introduced himself.
"That blonde-haired person is named Leon."
He pointed to the person standing to his left.
"And this old man is Vincent."
"I'm 31, not an old man, you fool."
Vincent spoke angrily upon hearing Lucas's comment.
Lucas sat on the bed to my right, Vincent in front of me, and Leon on the bed next to Vincent.
"Alright, since we have a lot of time before training starts, why don't we get to know each other? I'll start first."
Lucas jumped from his spot, suggesting the idea, while I lay down again on the bed.
"My name is Lucas, I'm 24 years old, I live in the eastern side of the outer city, my father is a farmer, and my mother weaves clothes. I have a younger brother and sister, and I'm proficient with the sword."
After Lucas introduced himself, it was Leon's turn.
"My name is Leon, I'm 22 years old, I also live in the eastern side of the outer city, my father works in agriculture, and my mother assists him. I have no siblings, and I'm good at controlling mana."
I was a little surprised by Leon's introduction.
'Proficient with mana? Does that mean he's a mage?'
After Leon finished, it was Vincent's turn.
"My name is Vincent, I'm 31 years old, my parents died ten years ago in the wall collapse incident, and I'm proficient with the bow."
'How did I not meet or notice someone of his strength in the outer city before?'
I was a little puzzled as I listened to Vincent's story, but it was my turn, so I stopped thinking.
"My name is caden Mort, I'm 18 years old, I'm an orphan, and I'm good with the bow."
After I calmly introduced myself, I pulled the cover over my head and went to sleep.
"Is that all? Talk more about yourself."
Lucas started talking to himself like a madman because I was already asleep.
(Two hours later)
"Everyone, now to the training ground!"
One of the trainers started shouting in the hallway of the sleeping quarters, calling everyone to the training ground.
"Caden! Wake up! Training is about to start."
"I know."
After pushing away Lucas, who was shouting in my ear, we all headed to the training ground.