"Go, go! Come on guys, let's go! Let's keep it moving!" Ashley remarked towards the others. "I... can still go!" "Yeah!" "Let's go!" The recruits exclaimed, as she rallied them on. One of the recruits was beginning to struggle. "My legs... I'm getting tired... Ah!" Ashley quickly turned around to see a trainee trip. "I have you!" She exclaimed, as she quickly stopped in her tracks and sprinted backwards. Ashley caught the recruit and then helped to continue running before running forward herself.
"Recruit what are you doing! Running backwards in the battlefield, are you fleeing from the enemy?" Darius yelled loudly. "I just can't leave anyone behind, sir!" Ashley responded loudly. The knight instructor stepped forward, but his advance was blocked by Siegmund's raised hand. "No. She... Emulated the true essence of the knight just then. Something like that means even more than being the strongest or the fastest in the battlefield. It should be celebrated, not disparaged." He remarked. "Hmph. As you wish." Darius grunted. Victoria turned around, raised her hands, and snapped her fingers twice towards Ashley.
Seeing this, a smirk formed on Darius' face. Ashley sped up and ran forward, huffing and puffing until she reached Victoria at the front, who elected not to slow down at all. "Ashley." "What... Is it? Did I something wrong?" Ashley asked. "You... accomodated one of the weaklings back there." Victoria answered. "And?" Ashley said, defiant. "Fine work." Said Victoria, putting up a thumbs up. "Eh?" Ashley exclaimed, confused. "In our prospective line of duty, we are expected to be a part of a whole, a cog in a wheel. In short, no matter how impressive the individual is, we knights are ultimately a group. We are responsible for others, and looking after the other knights. Making up for the weaknesses of others is our task." Victoria answered. "Well, I'm going back now. So..." said Ashley. "As you were. Back to your assistance of the others." Said Victoria, as Ashley ran back to the others.
'But I'd rather you cast off these weaklings, for they will only hold you back. For one to truly excel, you shan't offer up a piece of yourself to others. But if others offer themselves as kindling to your flame, then you will burn brighter above everyone else...' Thought Victoria. She turned to see Liam who had watched the earlier interaction. "What is it?" She asked. "It's nothing. Focus on the path ahead." He remarked. Victoria only grinned, and faced forward. Observing from afar, Siegmund noted the clear affirmation that Victoria gave Ashley.
"See, even your pupil realizes the true value of knighthood." Siegmund guffawed, much to Darius' chagrin. Darius moved forward and then called out towards the trainees. "Come on! Ten more laps, move!" He exclaimed. "Ehh?" "Wait, what?" "Isn't that three more laps than last time?" Some of the recruits who could still speak whined. "And? How are you all going to improve if we only do the same thing every day! My job here is to make you all stronger, faster! Not comfortable! Go, go!" Darius remarked. "I... can't go on any further." "I'm tired!" "My... legs!" The recruits at the rear began to stop and fell seated one after the other, and Darius strode forward towards them. "Recruits! What are you doing? Get up! Do you think knights can just stop and rest in the middle of battle? Are you slacking off, or is it desertion?" He exclaimed. "Sir, we... can't go any more." "We're tired!" The other recruits were too tired to speak and were tiredly panting.
"Tired? You've pulled these same stunts before. Day after day... You're not long in the knights if you're all like this! Do you not take this seriously? If you aren't going to give it you're all, then go back home!" Darius remarked. "Sir Darius! If you will." Siegmund exclaimed, as he walked towards Darius and the recruits. "Hmph... What is it this time, Siegmund?" The knight instructor asked. The recruits who were still running watched as Siegmund walked up to the seated trainees and Darius.
As the recruits passed by, Ashley looked back worriedly towards the ones who were left behind. "Recruits, it is quite alright. You may rest now." Siegmund remarked. "I'm talking about the children seated here, not the others; I apologize to all of you who are still going." He exclaimed to the others, with a hearty laugh. "Mister Knight, we're not lying, we really can't go on!" "We really want to, and we don't want to go home... But we can't!" "It's so hot, and we're so thirsty!" The recruits exclaimed. "If you have enough breath to complain, you can still run! And if you're thirsty, go to the next part of training and start a fire and get some water to boil!" Darius said to the recruits.
"Nonsense, nonsense, Sir Darius." Siegmund remarked, before searching through the packs strapped to himself and then retrieving some water containers from his person. "Here. I have some extra waters with me that I bring along since it really is so hot outside. Don't worry, I haven't sipped any yet so you're free to do so." Siegmund said, bending down and happily handing water sacks to the recruits. "I don't have enough for each of you, so you'll have to share. I apologize." He added. "No, no sir." "This is good enough!" "Thank you so much, Sir Siegmund!" And all the other recruits were busy chugging down the sacks of water.
"Wait a minute, maybe not that one." Siegmund said as he snatched one of the sacks before a recruit drank it. "This stuff's a little more hard hitting than water." The knight remarked with a smile. "Do you... think them to be mere babes? Infants? They are meant to be knights, hardened warriors on the battlefield! And you treat them like, like..." Darius was at a loss for words in his indignation. "Like children. Like they actually are." Siegmund answered. "A word, Sir Siegmund." Darius said, with quiet fury. Siegmund stood up straight and pulled Darius away a short distance away for a conversation. "Have you any-" "Trust me on this." Siegmund whispered to Darius. "Trust you... Hmph." He answered. "So you're listening? Let me work... And I'll get these recruits up and running." Siegmund answered. "Alright. I'm watching." Darius said, with his arms crossed.
'I always thought he was a bit of a goody two-shoes, but he won't be able to go as high as he is in the knights if he was as just as he seems... I don't always know what's going on inside his head...' He thought. Siegmund walked back towards the seated recruits, Victoria and the other trainees still running passed them. "Keep running recruits, no gawking!" Darius exclaimed, the tone of his voice startling the recruits. But Ashley could not help but worriedly look back towards the younger ones left behind. "Is there anything wrong, Ash?" One of her friends asked. "The others... It's almost everyday that they're getting told off like this. They can't help it. They're going... Going to get punished with more laps around and they'll be too tired for the fire-starting and the next parts of training." Ashley said, worriedly.
"Maybe... They should just go home. Because if the training is too hard on them, staying here is just going to be bad for them..." Her friend replied. Metas, Sethan, and Asralyn overheard. "But some of us... Don't have any homes to go back to. Some of the others the knights picked up from the streets, some of us are only going to end up back in orphanage after orphanage... Quitting isn't a choice..." Sethan remarked. "Then... there's nothing they can do..." Said Asralyn.
'They're... going to have to endure this day after day. Week after week... Until they've pushed so hard that they can go beyond; and all that pressure forces them to be stronger and faster... But more likely, they'll get fed up and collapse. They'll lash out and get punished, or be dejected and forced to go back home, or be forced into an orphanage or worse, pushed into the street. Some of the others, they don't want to go so they'll clam up. They'll be a sponge and soak up all that punishment. Even if they last long enough to become knights... They'll be changed for the worse.' Thought Metas. "There's nothing we can do about them now..." Said Metas.
"It's scary to think that if we didn't have you and it was only me and Lyn here, we might have ended up like them." Sethan remarked. After a short period of silence, Asralyn tried to change the subject. "I'm... getting tired again. Soon, a lot of us will be on the ground and tired like them. I'm worried that Sir Darius will chew us out too. He looks like in a worse mood today..." She remarked. "Don't worry, Lyn. He probably doesn't expect most of us to run all these laps. He's only like that for the recruits who drop first. Probably. Only a few will go the distance to his demands." Metas reassured her. "Well, hopefully." Asralyn answered.
"Maybe you can. Go the distance I mean." Said Sethan. "I don't see why I need to. I'll only tire myself out. When most of the others drop off, I will too. Besides, I'm not going to leave you two behind." Metas said warmly. His two siblings smiled in response. Ashley was still concerned about the other recruits and looked back frequently towards them. "Ash, I... can't keep running. Hah... Hah... It's going to be like last time, I can't make it!" A recruit remarked. "You can do it, just focus on continuing running, you don't need to be running fast, you just need to keep going!" Ashley exclaimed.
"If they can't continue, then they should just stop running. Forcing someone who isn't able or isn't willing to push forward, is a cruel thing. It is admirable and can lead to good results, but pushing yourself too hard can end in failure. But... It's up to you to choose!" Victoria exclaimed from the front, her voice reaching far behind her. "I... don't know if I can continue, but I will!" The recruit exclaimed. "Hah, that's the spirit! Now push yourself to burn harder, like a flame that flashes brighter though it is closer to burning out." Victoria said to herself. Liam observed Victoria's statement silently.
Meanwhile, Siegmund spoke to the recruits who finished drinking water as the other recruits passed by. "So, are you kids good? Are you all right?" He remarked. "Yeah!" "Yes." "I'm... better." "Alright, I guess." "I'm okay." "Yes, Sir!" "Yes, Mister Siegmund!" The recruits remarked one after the other. "Now that you've gotten some refreshment for your thirst and a bit of rest... What say you children get up and get going?" Siegmund asked. "Um..." "Well..." "Uh..." The recruits did not. "Hmm... How do I put this..." The knight thought, before leaning down towards the recruits. "You kids, you... don't want to go home, right? You want to become big and strong, and become knights, right?" Siegmund asked, reassuringly.
"We... have no choice." "Some of us have been here longer than we've been outside." "I don't want to go back out there..." "Training is hard, but at least I have a bed, and I have food for me everyday..." "Going to be a knight is all that I have left and I can't go back to my parents... They'll be mad!" Siegmund then rubbed his chin exaggeratedly. "Well, I'm afraid then that we can't do anything about that. All that we can do now is to make all of you stronger." He remarked. Siegmund then turned towards Darius who snickered.
"That's... what he wants to do too, but he's just acting mean. He's doing that because he wants to push you, push you harder than ever before. Because things are going to be really hard from now on. And the only way for you guys to get through it, is to be prepared and to be strong like a... Like a..." "Like a dragon!" One of the recruits finished Siegmund's sentence. "Hmm... That's a good comparison... Where did you hear that from?" He remarked. "My... Mom and Dad! I learned that a long time ago, our kingdom used to have big and strong dragons that protected us all. The dragons went away, but the king says that their power is passed through the people!" One recruit exclaimed. "That's right! Good of you to be well aware of our kingdom's history! Truly it's hard to believe that things like dragons used to be in our kingdom, but its not that unbelievable because of this..." Siegmund then opened his palm, and a small flame appeared atop it.
The running recruits passed by them once again some of them looking towards the knight's flame, and Siegmund then turned towards them. "Recruits! Can you halt momentarily? I have something important to show you all!" The knight exclaimed. "Huh?" "Hmm..." The recruits then stopped their movement and turned towards Siegmund, many of whom were confused. "Siegmund..." Darius remarked. "Relax Darius, they'll be up and finish all of their running laps soon." Siegmund said towards Darius. "As I was saying, behold our flame." The knight exclaimed, the flame was perfectly stable and did not waver. It was a flame more brilliant than any fireplace they've ever seen, and the flames that the young recruits could conjure paled in comparison.
"Ooh..." "Wow..." "Cool..." "Hah... Hah... At least we have some time to rest..." Many of the recruits were tired, but some were distracted enough to admire Siegmund's flame. "I wish I could get that kind of flame someday..." Sethan remarked. "Hmm..." Metas remarked. Siegmund then continued speaking. "Come closer children, quickly." Siegmund knelt on one knee and the other recruits came closer, some of the younger ones even sat next to the flame. Though it intensified the heat, they were enamored by it.
"Don't get too close to it, our flame is a tool. It can be dangerous thing, but in the right hands, our hands; it can be a thing to protect and help our people." Said Siegmund. He then clasped his hands together to put out the flame. "Aww..." Sethan exclaimed. "Our flame is the proof our lineage, our kingdom's people have been graced with the blessing of the dragon, a power that people from other kingdom's don't have. Now that the dragons are gone from the kingdom, the only thing left to protect it is the kingdom's knights. The power of the dragons are passed down now, to all of you. Many of you have already unlocked your flame, many of you have not; But all of you are now responsible for our kingdom's future!" Siegmund remarked.
'Hmph. He made the children listen to him. Most of them anyway. That's the difference between being a soldier and a leader...' Darius thought. 'I'm curious about this man. He's quite an accomplished knight and captain... And in his choice of pupils that he handpicked...' Victoria thought as he looked towards Metas and Liam. 'This could rally the other recruits, but... The truth is rarely so simple as that...' Thought Liam. Siegmund then stood back up and dusted himself off. He held his hand out to the seated recruits, and then helped them each up to their feet. They were transfixed and listened to his every word, he exuded with a charisma that could make a regular person listen to the most mundane thing.
"Now, it's time to continue running!" He exclaimed to them. "Uh..." "Aww..." "Um..." The recruits did not want to. 'Heh. Now he's lost them.' Darius thought with a smile. "Fear not recruits! For I will be running alongside you!" Siegmund exclaimed. 'What?' Darius was befuddled. "Huh?" "What is he saying..." The recruits were also confused. 'Well, if this works, it'll get the others running again... But if it doesn't...' Thought Metas. 'He's going to make a fool of himself... At this point, he's no worse than the recruits...' Darius thought. "Are you really going to?" Endro asked, skeptical. "Indeed, young man!" Siegmund remarked, beginning to jog in place. "Hup, hup, hup, hup." He remarked with each step.
"Come on, recruits! Up, up, up!" Siegmund said as he jogged to the front of the line of recruits and jogged in place waiting for them to get up. "Re-" "Recruits! Observe me, observe my form! You, you want to become a knight, right?" Siegmund cut off Darius and pointed to a random recruit. "Uh, yes sir!" They remarked. "Stand recruit, stand with me!" Siegmund exclaimed. "Uh, alright!" The recruit quickly stood up. "Run, run! Run with me!" "Okay!" With Siegmund's request, the recruit began to jog as well. The knight walked beside the recruit, and observed his form. "Straighten your back like this, and your arms like this... Breath like this, and..." Siegmund remarked and corrected their running form. "Better, right?" He remarked. "Uh, I think?" The recruit answered. "Alright, children! Up, follow me! Let's go!" Siegmund said, running forward.
The recruit that was already up ran forward, and most shrugged and ran after him. The others saw Darius' silent glare and went up and running. The runners fell into place exactly as the positions they had earlier, with Liam and Victoria leading. "Good, just straighten your back. Lower your arms a bit. Yes, that's the way. Widen your stride a little; that's too much, now that's just right..." Siegmund went and ran backwards towards the other recruits, and helped them with their running form. "Liam, looking well! Er... Victoria, great form as well!" He remarked towards the two front-runners.
"As always, I am!" Victoria exclaimed, whilst Liam only looked backwards and nodded. "Metas... Looking after your siblings, I see!" Siegmund remarked. Metas looked towards him and nodded. "Hi, Sir Siegmund!" "Hi!" His siblings exclaimed. The grumblings from the other recruits continued but did not linger due to their exhaustion. "Huff, puff, huff, puff..." Siegmund remarked, as he ran. His armor clinked and clanked as he ran, and he huffed and puffed in visible exhaustion. "Are you alright, Sir Siegmund? You look like you're going to give up before the others will." Victoria asked. "I'm quite alright, though I'm thankful for your concern." Said Siegmund, huffing and puffing with each step and could only keep up with the recruits at the middle of the group.
The recruits then continued better than they would have, but they predictably began to drop off after a few laps. "Sorry, Mister Siegmund... I... Can't do it anymore." "Me too. I'm... tired." "Good attempts recruits, I know you tried your best!" Siegmund exclaimed. "I'm... dropping off..." Said Lert. "Alright then, guess I'll stop running too." Endro remarked. "Don't! You... You said you were going to become a great knight right? Then don't give up! Keep going!" Lert answered.
Endro slowed down, but did not stop. 'I... I'm tired. But... I can still keep going. I... want to rest, but... I'm not as tired as them. I can give up now and it won't be a problem, but... I can't accept giving up when I can still go on!' He thought. "Then..." Endro remarked to himself. 'The others are trying not to get too tired... Then they're focusing on endurance. And in these last few laps, they're not going to push themselves to their fullest. And the others in front are confident in their placement...' Endro then started to slowly increase in his speed as Lert and some of the other recruits began to fall behind. Near the front, others began to tire as well. Some of them dropped to the ground, though only few were that exhausted. Most of those who stopped, ran to the side and got out of the way of the recruits still running.
"Ash, I'm out." "Yeah, me too." They ran out of the way of the other recruits. "Alright, great job guys!" Ashley exclaimed, briefly turning around and running backwards to greet them. Sethan and Asralyn began to slow down, with them inclined to finally stop. "Sir Siegmund helped me a little, but I think I can't go on running anymore now." Sethan remarked. "Can we... Hah... Rest now? I'm... Going to fall..." said Asralyn. Metas looked towards his siblings and saw that they have truly tried their hardest and said: "Right, let's rest." "Hmm?" Sethan exclaimed.
The three siblings stared in slight bemusement as Endro was slowly gaining past them. "Huh, he was serious. Looks like he's going to try to go to the front..." Sethan remarked. Metas watched quietly as Endro ran forward with a serious and single-minded determination, breathing in a focused manner. The three watched him as he slowly passed recruit after recruit without slowing down. "Guys... Can... we... stop now?" Asralyn exclaimed, exhaustedly. "Oh, right." Sethan remarked, slowing down and assisting Asralyn as they went out of the line. But Metas continued running, still continuing in his observation of Endro's shift and progress forward.
Ashley looked back to see how much of her friends still remained, and to cheer on those that still remained. She saw Endro running forward and advancing, and was surprised by it. 'It's him who caused that ruckus this morning. So he's being serious about being a knight. I wonder what had him changed so quickly. And... he was crying earlier. No doubt he was dealing with something... All kids who act like that are dealing with something, or just have something wrong with them...' Ashley thought. "Come on guys, you can still do it!" She remarked. "I... can still..." The recruit who forced themselves to continue said, before stumbling with an empty look in their eyes. "Hey, hey. Hey!" Ashley exclaimed, sprinting towards the recruit to catch them before they fell.
Endro passed the recruit and he was surprised as they fell. 'They're... falling. I need to catch them, but why should I be the one that... I need to, but I can't stop and... She's going to catch them, so I can...' He passed forward without a second glance. "Wha- Hey!" Ashley said to Endro, as she sped past him and shot her hand forward as the fainting recruit fell backward. "Hnng!" She exclaimed as she yanked the recruit backward and lifted them up onto her shoulder. Ashley turned forward to see Victoria looking back towards them. Her eyes pointed low to the floor and she flicked her head away in disapproval.
Ashley knew even from that distance, that Victoria was disappointed and wanted for the recruit to be left behind instead of attended to. As she slung the recruit's arm over her shoulder, Ashley looked forward and tried to move but was hampered by the limp and almost unconscious body of the recruit. "Wake up, hey! Are you alright? Hey, somebody!" She remarked. 'I'm... not going to be left behind! I... Somebody please, help... I want to go on, but I'm not going to throw somebody away to the wayside...' Ashley then quickly stumbled forward carrying the recruit but made little headway forward.
The other recruits passed by without attending to the two as they were either too focused on continuing forward, or fearing reprimand from Sir Darius, who disliked recruits assisting each other and lagging behind because of it. "Recruit! What are you doing? Lagging behind like that, you're going to get yourself killed in battle! You should have just left them behind; Instead of the kingdom losing one weak soldier, you're ridding it of another good soldier!" Darius exclaimed, striding towards Ashley. 'Oh shoot, what am I going to do? I... don't want to leave them behind, but I can't get left behind myself! I don't want to get scolded again... And if I take too long, I'm not going to catch up...' She thought. Suddenly, Siegmund rushed with a speed that made the leaves from the ground fly up into the air.
"Recruit, hand them over to me." He remarked, his speed made those in front turn towards him in surprise. "Hmph." But Victoria sneered as Siegmund carried the recruit away. "I'll take care of them, you can continue forward." He remarked. "Whoa, he really can run." "I never expected an old man like him to run that fast!" "I barely even saw him, it was like a blur!" "Is that what a fully fledged knight can do? Run that fast in armor?" Lert remarked, seated down and resting in the shade.
From behind, Metas who was slowing down in his running speed, sighed in relief. 'Whew, I was worried I almost had to step in there...' He started to speed up for a moment, but slowed back down as Siegmund handled the situation. Siegmund searched his packs and his belongings but found that all of his water containers were empty. "You, recruit. Fill up this container of water from the river, quickly!" Siegmund exclaimed. "Oh, okay!" One of the resting recruits grabbed the container and ran to the river whilst Siegmund carried the unconscious recruit to the shade. "Siegmund." said Darius. "What is it? Are you going to chastize me for taking care of a recruit?" The knight remarked in response. "That recruit overestimated their limits, its their fault that they're in the state they're in now." Said Darius.
"But you were the one pushing them to this extreme." Siegmund said, calmly. "I push them to the fullest, so that they become their greatest. It is the soldier's duty to know their limits and push them, but not for them to overestimate themselves." Darius replied. "Are you wishing that I not assist this recruit? That I simply leave them in the sun, face down and out cold?" Siegmund answered, as a recruit handed him his canteen. "I did not say that specifically. It's just... rather unbecoming." Darius remarked. "If you have no complaints, and if you wish not to interfere then I suggest going back to watch the other recruits." Siegmund remarked, gently trickling water onto the recruit's face.
"Hmph." Darius exclaimed. As Darius walked away, the unconscious recruit was slowly stirring awake. "Water..." They remarked. Siegmund then slowly trickled water into the recruit's mouth and leaned them onto a nearby tree. He then put away his water canteen. "Recruit, I need some help. And... fan them like this..." Siegmund remarked to a recruit. Ashley ran backwards still, as she could not focus on running forward until she knew the recruit was alright. 'Good, it looks like they're okay. But... I don't know if I can catch up. I guess I can still try-' She turned around quickly, but tripped on a nearby tree root that she did not notice. 'Ah, I fell. I must have not noticed something on the ground. It's my fault, I wasn't paying attention. Now I won't be able to catch up; not that I was going to to begin with... I deserve it, maybe I shouldn't have helped so many, no... I shouldn't have done more than I could handle...' Her thoughts flashed in quick succession as she fell.
Siegmund quickly turned his head, but he was too far away. All of a sudden, she felt the swift and tight grasp of someone who quickly held onto her arm. "Victoria? No, who-" As she was pulled back to her feet, Ashley saw who aided her. "Metas?" She remarked, confused. Metas huffed and puffed, a trail of dust kicked up in his wake as he dashed quickly in a short time. "Are... you... alright?" He asked, showing greater exhaustion compared to his calmer demeanour earlier. "What- Brother's over there? He was just here? I just closed my eyes for a short while and..." Asralyn remarked, in disbelief. "He... just went there that fast. I didn't expect that he could do something like that, woah..." Said Sethan, with eyes sparkling with awe.
"Uh, yeah. I'm fine now. But, I... need to catch up with them. And... I'm not going to be fast enough!" Ashley answered Metas. The small number of recruits still left running were rapidly approaching and almost caught up from where she was standing. "Even if I run now, I won't be able to... What can I do to... Whoa-" She exclaimed, as Metas took off holding her hand and made her run along with him. "Well, all you can do now... Is run." He answered. "Oh, okay!" Ashley followed along as they rushed forward hand-in-hand, but she halted once she snapped into realization. "Wait, wait! Is this even allowed? And I'm getting tired and, I don't want to drag you along and tire you out for my sake too..." She said, hastily. "Well, if you don't want to, it's fine. But don't worry about me helping you, I'm the one dragging you along after all..." Metas remarked, with a slight smile.
"If you insist then." Ashley then bolted forward. "Hmph!" Metas exclaimed, as he was quickly pulled forward though he acclimated just as fast to the speed they ran. 'I ran a second before he did, but he's adjusted and now he's moving faster than me. Maybe... Maybe I'll make it after all. But all this time, he was staying back there; taking care of his two siblings, of course but... He's only barely breaking a sweat after all that and... He still might be faster than...' Ashley thought as they curved around the corner. "Ooh... Ash is holding hands..." "Look who's getting some extra help there..." Some of the recruits called out.
"You guys talk a lot while you all are sitting down there, and we're still running up here!" Ashley exclaimed confidently through her huffing and puffing. "Ha, ha..." "Heh!" "Well, you got a point there." The recruits remarked in reply. "I was going to say leave them be, but that answer's good too." Said Metas. "Well, I wasn't going to let them off easy." said Ashley.
But for the other recruits, they did not choose to express themselves in playful remarks, instead in hushed gossip and whispers. "Is she running with who I think she's running with?" "Are they together, how long has it been?" "Sticking around that guy, its trouble. He's probably a creep." "Yeah, even if he isn't. It's not good to be with someone like that, it's unlucky." They whispered. Ashley could not hear their words, but saw them whispering to one another, with their hands covering their mouths as they spoke veiledly, staring at them and pointing towards them. She could not utter a rebuttal against those recruits this time.
"It's a bold decision to be making friends in the middle of training, though it's not something I expect from you. I don't know how whether to be dissapointed; I had the impression that you weren't the kind to give yourself an unfair advantage, or to be impressed at your resourcefulness." Victoria exclaimed. "Hmph." Metas remarked, he was unappreciative of the comment but did not want to cause any further trouble. "I-" Ashley exclaimed, with her head lowering. She then began to slow her pace. "Come on, we're close to catching up. Can you not continue?" Metas asked. "No, it's just... I can do it alone now, so..." She remarked. "I get it, the others are saying things... And besides, you can do well enough now. Go." Metas said, as he let go of her hand.
'I should get back to Sethan and Asralyn, we'll need to prepare for the next part of training...' He thought as he turned his back towards Ashley. "Hmph!" Metas exclaimed as he was grabbed by the shoulder and pulled forward. "But I'm not going without you!" She remarked. "What? I thought you didn't..." "I know what I said, but its not that I need your help. It's just that you could go so far and for you not to... It's selfish but it doesn't sit right with me; You helped me and you don't get to go..." Ashley exclaimed, almost stumbling over her words. "Tch, what a pain." He remarked, patting her on the back and then running forward.
"Wait, did you just agree?" Ashley said as she quickly ran after him. He took off with such speed that she struggled to catch up with him immediately. "I did. Also, some people have a reason in refusing to go the distance. You'll make some people unhappy if you don't respect that." Said Metas. "I'll... try to keep that in mind." She answered, slightly shyly. At the front, another recruit started to lag behind. They stopped momentarily to catch their breath, but found themselves kneeling down in exhaustion.
Only a few of the recruits were left now, and there were more-or-less two laps remaining for the recruits to run. Victoria looked back at the remaining recruits to examine her competition. 'Hmm... There's more competition than usual today... Amusing. I wonder what changed. There's that Metas... He's shown signs of potential, he always stops before he exerts any real effort. It's infuriating, he's being held back by those siblings of his... How useless and pathetic some of the others might be, they're giving it their all; how lacking their potential may be, they'll likely make loyal and vigorous fodder and footsoldiers. His attitude... It's insulting to those who wish to become true knights.' Victoria remarked, looking back towards him and gritting her teeth. She neared the same tree root where Ashley tripped upon and simply leapt to avoid it, having memorized where it was.
'And that other one... Can't even remember his name. The one from earlier. Is it impulsivity or stupidity that drives him? No matter, his physical limitations will catch up to him in no time. Unless... His shift in behavior is something to note. People can be surprising in unusual ways...' She thought. The recruits saw the last remaining runners and started to pick favorites. "Hmm... There's more people than usual. Usually only Victoria and Liam are the ones left..." "Even Ashley would have stopped by now..." "Don't know who to root for, Victoria will probably outlast them anyway..." "Maybe Liam can finish the final lap in the first place instead of her this time. I'd rather have him over her..." Another recruit remarked. The conversation grew and grew among the recruits.
"Why him? He's just quiet and hangs near her all the time." One more recruit answered. "That's what makes him cool! And it helps that he's one of the tallest and strongest out of all of us..." "Tall and quiet, that's just Metas too. Why don't you just choose him?" The conversation was progressing and growing amongst the recruits. "Because you know... Because its him! Who would root for him!" The recruit fired back. "Go brother! You can do it!" Sethan exclaimed. "Well... Of course, he's going to root for his brother." The recruit remarked in response.
Asralyn looked at Metas, and saw him in a newer light. "Brother... He's keeping up with the rest of them. I knew he was holding back but..." She thought to herself. She looked towards the other recruits who were disparaging her brother, and was somewhat ashamed of being siblings with someone who would cause her and Sethan to become outcasts among the recruits. And so she was afraid to cheer her brother on at first, but then... "Brother. Go brother! Go! You can do it! Come on!" She cheered.
Near the trees, Darius walked into the shade towards Siegmund who was still watching over the unconscious recruit. "Hmph. If the recruits have time to bicker and chatter amongst themselves, they should be preparing and doing their next training instead. But... something interesting is happening... There's more recruits here than usual." Darius remarked. "Really?" Siegmund asked. "Usually, only Victoria and Liam are left. Metas I knew could be capable, but he's not shown it. And the other one... They could grow to be hardy warriors on the battlefield with enough training..." Darius remarked. "These children can all grow to be the ones who'll serve and protect the kingdom." Said Siegmund. 'And crush our enemies...' Thought Darius. "Well, I suppose I can let this slide for today. But too many leniences in one day can make them used to peacefulness and complacency. Not unlike our knights during peacetime..." He remarked. "Well, that's plenty leniency coming from you." Said Siegmund.
As the last lap approached, the cheering of the recruits intensified. "Come on Ash, I'm still rooting for you!" "Me too! You can go past these other losers!" Victoria sported a sharp glare towards the recruit, who retreated in response. "Go Victoria, I bet my dinner on you, don't go behind now!" "Liam, don't let Victoria win!" "Ash, I still believe in you!" "Come on, Ash!" But one recruit cheered on the one who was the last in the pack, and the one believed in the least by the other recruits. "Endro, come on. You... You can do it!" Lert cried out. The voices of the recruits reached the ones remaning running in different ways.
"Tsk." Endro remarked. 'I... can do it? I don't need nonsense like that because... I'm still behind. It doesn't matter if I can, its either I will... Or I won't! I... need to. I just need to!' He thought, as he continued to push himself harder. "Come on brother!" "You can do it brother!" Sethan and Asralyn exclaimed. "Hmph." Metas exclaimed, with the smallest of smirks on his face. 'Well, it is nice to be cheered for by them because of this... But I've now opened and gone down a path I can never go back from... Obligations where there weren't before. Siegmund will probably be pleased because of this... This brings trouble but, I'll have to see this one through for now...' Metas thought.
"When I first saw you bring Metas and the other two, I was baffled. You used your high ranking to force these three through the selection process; and they weren't the children of nobles, though those are usually immediately knighted in title only, and sent away somewhere away from the fighting. And those selected by us knights, are the ones who showed particular ability. And aside from one incident... Well, I only thought you brought three problem children from some filthy nook in the slums somewhere because you took pity on them. But..." Darius remarked. "I told you, they have promise." Said Siegmund. "Well, if he shows more, maybe the other two have potential in them... But, this part of training is coming to a close and the result on who will be the victor between them all." Darius exclaimed.
Ashley mentally counted with her fingers on the number of laps remaining. 'This... should be the last one... I've never made it this far... And usually I'll be too tired to move right now. It seems like I've gotten a burst of energy like never before... No doubt I'll feel this later, and I'll probably be tired for the next parts of training but... Right now all I want is to move forward... To catch up to her, to show her that you can be strong without pushing everybody else away!' She thought.
Liam was the one leading, with Victoria appearing to be slightly behind beside him. Though he did not appear to be struggling or running to compete, simply going forward at his own pace to the point of seeming like an outsider due to the calm he displayed in carrying himself. 'The others are cheering, some for me... Some for the others. There's quite a few of us today. They're trying harder... Good for them though Victoria will probably outlast them and become first to finish. Or she'll allow me to be the one who leads. Not sure what she's thinking all the time. Though, it doesn't concern me.' Thought Liam.
Victoria looked towards him and then back towards the others. 'Heh, the last lap is about to be finished. But the others are still standing. Liam will likely be ahead of them, and I can choose to be ahead of him, but he's not interested in winning either way. Shame. Natural talent and ability is nothing without the proper drive and ambition to fuel that flame... And him. That troublemaker from earlier. Does he think he can just all of a sudden butt in into the top with us? Being here is not just something one does, it is something that one struggles through, endures through. And his actions earlier today tell that it is not something that he deserves, to be at the top. I won't let him. Not that he could beat me, but still... And that Metas, he should have taken this chance earlier... Not just hiding away in the corner tending to his lesser siblings. The fact that he is being spurned by the others should not deter him from him rising up rather, he should become powerful enough so that he can instill fear and compliance from those around him...' Victoria started to pick up speed.
"Hmm? Shouldn't it be over?" One of the other recruits remarked. "Is there still another lap? I remember Sir Darius saying that there were only..." "Victoria's still going? Is she confused or something?" "She's never confused, there has to be a reason..." Victoria smirked as she used her acute senses to ascertain the growing confusion. 'I've started the challenge, now that's left for them to do is to accept it or be gullible enough to follow after me...' She thought. Liam did not stop and kept going. 'Good, he's not backing down. Now for the others to follow suit.' Victoria remarked to herself. Metas in third place, slowed down slightly as he saw Ashley speeding up towards him with a concerned expression. "She's not slowing down, it should be over already." She remarked towards him. "Yeah. It looks like she's looking to wear us down. But we don't have to accept her challenge, we've reached what was instructed of us." Metas replied.
"But giving up after she challenged us... I want to overtake her and stick it to her." Ashley said, determined. "Hmph, if you're that confident you must still have a lot of energy to keep going." Metas answered. "Yeah! But, if we... want a better chance of beating her, we... better keep going together." Ashley exclaimed, pausing with breaths in between. 'I... don't think I can keep on going for a few more laps... Even if its not me, somebody except Liam needs to beat her. For her sake...' Ashley thought to herself. "Haah... Hah... What now... I... need to keep going..." Endro remarked, as he slowed down.
"He's out! Four left, there's only four left!" "Come on Ashley, I'm still rooting for you!" "Go Liam, show these losers who's the best!" "Go brother, you can do it!" "Victoria don't let them win!" The other recruits cheered loudly. 'No, I'm... not done! I can still...' Endro thought tiredly, looking around to see that the recruits had written him off and were no longer paying attention to him. 'They all think I'm done... I...' He looked all around, but he only saw one cheering for him. 'Lert. I.. can't go on. I... I'm still too weak. I... need to get stronger.' Endro remarked as he fell to his knees in exhaustion. "Well, valiant effort for what its worth. But... what of your pupil extending the training without your permission..." Siegmund remarked, watching nearby.
"The boy has potential yet... We only have to stoke the fires of his yearning and his flame will grow still..." Darius said, looking towards Endro who had his hand outstretched towards the recruits still running. "As for Victoria, I'll have to reprimand her later. Now... I have to commend her ambition, she's fond of testing the other recruits. Though I'm not opposed to that." Darius remarked.
'Maybe I'll give it two or three more laps before I stop. Can't keep this up forever. Not tired, but... I may not overwhelmingly crush the others in the next parts of training like I usually do if I keep this up too long. And besides... One down and two to go.' Victoria thought as she looked towards Ashley and Metas. 'Hmph, she's getting tired...' Metas remarked to himself. "It feels like... we can actually catch up to her!" Ashley exclaimed. "But it seems like she might be conserving her energy for the next parts of training. If we aren't careful, we'll be too tired for the next parts of training as well." Metas exclaimed. "We can use that to our advantage! If she's not going to give it her all... Then just this once, we can use that to beat her!" Ashley answered.
'But its not like she can't speed up and overtake us if we suddenly rush past her, nor can we keep up running full speed so much so that we'll be too tired in no time and she can catch up. But she is expecting us to give up soon, and is underestimating us. So how...' Metas thought. He turned towards Ashley. "If... its a matter of endurance, she'll definitely get the better of us. Even if we go past her, it won't be long before she catches up." He remarked. "So... what do we do?" She answered, feeling slightly hopeless. "But she is still underestimating us... So I have a plan. It depends on what happens next, and what our instructors will do but if it works, we'll be able to 'beat' her, in a way." Said Metas.
Victoria turned and saw Metas and Ashley whispering to each other. 'Hmph. Gossiping to each other in the middle of training. They truly have no focus or respect. And now that they're doing that, must mean that they've given up as well. Tsk, tsk, tsk.' She thought as she ran. "Ahem! Recruits, for the sake of not taking too long... This training ends when the recruits still running... Reach this point!" Darius exclaimed, sticking a wooden spear into the ground from the supplies brought earlier. He then stuck walked a short distance parallel and stuck another into the ground, and then tied a loose rope around both spears and connected the gap between them. The tie was so loose, that it could be blown away by a gust of wind. The distance of the finish line and where the recruits were, was currently half a lap.
"Sir Darius placed a finish line!" "Oh, its going to be over soon!" "Finally, its been taking too long..." "Come on Liam, its only a short distance away, you can go past Victoria!" "The finish line is close, I don't think Ashley can catch up anymore..." "You guys can still do it! Whoever it is, you can still beat Victoria!" "I'm so excited to see the winner!" "Anything that gives us a break from training is good for me..." The recruits remarked among themselves as the conclusion of the contest drew near.
'It's been a while since Sir Darius forced us to stop because we were taking too long. Mostly because they didn't bother to go past what was instructed, or because I always beat everybody else... Well then, I better do the same here. Not that the competition is particularly fierce... Though certainly Sir Darius will be cross with me for taking up this much time, I'll have to apologize. But that's a concern for later. Now... Its time for me to win again.' Victoria thought, confidently. Metas and Ashley's covert discussion ended as they drew nearer and nearer to the finish line. Ashley let out loud gasps of air as she slowed down, panting and out of breath. Metas did so as well, showing signs of exhaustion as he slowed to a halt. "Ashley's tired, she's done!" "No, come on guys, you can keep going!" Some of the recruits cried out.
"Brother..." Sethan remarked. He then looked at Asralyn who was transfixed, still silently hoping that her brother could make it through. 'Heh, looks like they've ran out of steam...' Victoria looked behind her and she saw Liam who stopped running, though not out of exhaustion. He turned towards Darius and the 'finish line' that he set up, and then towards Metas and Ashley, then towards the remaining recruits. "Come on Liam!" "Why did he stop?" "And now it's done..." "Go, go!" The recruits exclaimed in frustration. 'And he's given up too. Does he not want a repeat of what happened earlier? Well, no matter. Its just time for me to claim my rightful place at the top.' Victoria thought gleefuly as she slowed her pace. She faced forward and went towards the finish line, and the loud cries of the other recruits, desperate for the others to go on, began to die down. As Ashley and Metas saw Liam walking back towards the other recruits, the former looked towards Metas and nodded.
But as he prepared to break into a sprint, he saw that Ashley still had her hands on her knees and was actually visibly exhausted. "Go. I... can't go any further. Go!" Ashley said, frustrated by her powerlessness but wanting him to continue forward. Metas nodded, turned forward and then bolted. Facing forward, Victoria basked in her own thoughts and in self-satisfaction as the goal drew closer towards her. 'How desperate are their pleas for the others to continue. For any of them to even attempt to beat me. Cheering those who have already given up, in vain.' She exclaimed to herself. "Hmm?" Liam remarked, as Metas breezed past him.
Victoria neared the goal, but was distracted by her own self-indulgent thoughts that she did not think to look back. 'Ah, their cries of desperation are sweet. To know how much they desire someone to go past me, but for no one to be able to do so. It's great! Truly delightful. But they should save their breaths for the next part of training, not keep uselessly shouting like poor peasantry at the market or wild animals. Really, they should be getting quiet now-' She thought, feeling annoyed as she turned her head around to see Metas run past her. Her gaze followed him as he sped forward, and she was in such disbelief that she was momentarily stunned.
"You!" Victoria exclaimed as she ran full speed, Metas having a slight lead on her. "Come on Metas!" "Go, man. Beat her!" "Come on!" "You're so close, beat her!" "Victoria! Put him away!" "Yeah, don't let him win!" Many recruits had been loudly cheering Metas on as Victoria was not paying attention. "Go, brother!" Sethan cheered. "Brother..." Asralyn remarked, her eyes sparkling with hope. 'I wanted to do it myself, but I can't. So... Somebody needs to. For her sake...' Ashley thought. "You can do it Metas! You can beat her!" She exclaimed.
Metas only had a moment's lead on Victoria who rapidly caught up towards him, but the finish line might just be close enough for her to not be able to. "Hmph..." Metas exclaimed, as his breath seeped through his closed mouth. He gritted his teeth as he put all of his strength, and his energy not only into his legs, but into his entire body as he pushed himself forward. The finish line was only a few meters away, and both competitors instinctively outstretched their hands towards it. Being larger and taller, Metas' reach was longer than Victoria's.
"Huff..." Victoria also exerted herself greatly, pushing herself harder than she ever did earlier. The recruits became greatly raucous as they inched near the finish line, their cheers growing louder and louder as anticipation for who would win rose. As victory was in arm's reach, both competitors stomped hard on the ground at once. Winning would be decided with one last stride, and both thought it would be wise to leap forward to go the distance quicker. As Metas and Victoria jumped forward together, she turned towards him.
Metas noticed, and Victoria grinned as she looked him in the eye. She then threw her hands behind her back and plumes of flame erupted from them. One moment their gazes met, the next moment, Metas could only see a trail of flame. He turned forward to see the rope flying in the wind, Victoria having blasted herself forward past the finish line. The loud boom and bright flash of her flame, rendered all of the recruits silent as Victoria stood victorious. "You're good. Really good. And that was a good attempt, but... You lack something a little more..." She said, as she sparked a small flame in front of him. "Well, that's finished." said Darius. Siegmund was silent as he observed Metas.
Metas' expression was muted. He didn't appear to show sadness or anger, and he merely walked away calmly. "Well then, time for the next part of training! Hope you didn't get too used to resting!" Victoria exclaimed towards the other recruits. "Yeah!" "We knew you would win!" "You showed him!" The silence was broken by the recruits now cheering for Victoria. Endro had walked back up to the recruits, joining into the many, and he assimilated back into them without only one paying him any notice. "Good job. Hey, you were close!" Lert said to him. "Hmph, I was far from ever being close. And even if I was... That, would have happened to me. And my flame's worth squat other than for scaring people or going out of control." Endro said, clenching his fist.
"But you made it farther past me! And everyone else! A little more, and you could have done it! And your flame, you can still train to make it better. You can beat her and be a great knight, all it takes is-" "I said I wasn't close! I can't! I never will! Leave me alone, will you!" Endro exclaimed, grabbing the scuff of Lert's shirt. "Or what?" said Lert. "Just... go away." Endro said as he pushed Lert away and walked off. Lert stood his ground but felt saddened as he watched Endro walk away.
Metas walked to Sethan and Asralyn who were watching from a distance. "Well, I tried, but..." He remarked dismissively, as he dusted his pants off. "You were..." "Yeah, you were..." "Unbelievable!" "Awesome!" Metas was surprised by his siblings' expression. "Hmm?" He remarked. "It... was nothing." Said Metas. "Nothing? I knew you were strong and fast but I didn't know you were one of the best runners in the recruits!" Sethan exclaimed. "I thought you got tired as fast as us, but now I know that you can go for so much more!" said Asralyn. "If you can do that, you'll be a great knight for sure! And if you can do it... Maybe we can!" said Sethan. "Too bad you don't have a flame. If you had it, you could be one of the best here!" Asralyn exclaimed.
"That's reaching too much. All I did was run a little faster than you guys..." Metas said, as he scratched the back of his head. "No, you were incredible." Ashley said, standing behind Metas. He turned around. "You... did what most of us couldn't do for a very long time. You almost beat her. That's... Something to be proud of." Ashley said, reassuringly. "I... guess so." Said Metas.
"Yeah, that was pretty good!" Another nearby recruit remarked. "You were going up against Victoria after all, not beating her is pretty understandable!" Said another. "Using her flame like that, she had to use it. If she didn't she would have won!" "She kinda cheated with that..." The recruits started to turn towards him, and give him attention and praise. Many of them started taking his side and commending him.
"Everyone, we... We need to prepare for the next part of training." Metas said as he walked away from the others, with Sethan and Asralyn following him. "He's just... that way sometimes, please don't hold it against him." Sethan said, before running after Metas. There was awkward silence, the others did not follow after him and remained where they were.
"Well!" Darius exclaimed as he clapped his hands loudly. "Oh..." Ashley said under her breath. "Recruits! Usually, any kind of unnecessary conduct or noise in the middle of training is to be met with punishment. But... Since I'm such in a... 'jolly' mood today, we'll all pretend that I stopped listening for a couple minutes back there. However, I'll be listening closely from now on. So not a peep, or I'll double your training!" Darius exclaimed. "Aw..." A few quiet complaints arose, under the breaths of the recruits. "Understood?" said Darius. "Yes, sir!" Said the group of recruits in front of him. "Understood?" Darius turned towards Victoria and the other recruits. "Yes, sir!" They exclaimed, with Victoria smiling wide towards him.
"Hmph... Onto the next part of training! Stand! Lines!" Darius remarked. The recruits stood up and quickly formed lines that matched the number of the iron pots near the river, as was their routine. A few pushed aside their fellows and rushed towards the front, but Victoria walked calmly to the first spot in the first line uncontested. The others fell in line, but some like Metas and his siblings went all the way towards the back of their line. The sun continued to be at the peak of its rise, and it would be a while before the heat died down. "And... start!" Darius exclaimed.
The recruits sprang into action, dozens of sparks immediately flared up... And many of those sputtered out immediately after. Victoria grinned as she looked upon the struggling recruits. With one flick of the wrist, she tossed a small ball of flame onto the small pile of wood below and setting it alight. She casually walked away and sat down cross-legged nearby, watching the other recruits. "Ugh..." "Mhm..." "Hmph..." The recruits in the line beside her groaned as they watched the fire begin to grow. The others in front of their respective lines struggled to produce a flame, though some of them created tiny sparks from their hands. "Come on... come on..." Lert remarked, trying to produce a flame with no avail. "Aha! No..." "Hmm..." "Flame on!" "Fire, fire, fire!"
It was a somewhat comical sight as the recruits struggled to create and summon their flames, with them trying various hand gestures and motions, and saying various words in vain to try to create a flame. Siegmund and Darius stood nearby and watched closely, ready to put out any flame that the recruits might accidentally set on each other. "Focus, focus! Concentrate on the flame you're trying to make! Imagine the bright orange flame! The heat, floating atop your hand! Will it forth!" Darius exclaimed towards the recruits.
Siegmund watched Darius intently, curious on his instruction style. "And... switch! Move! Go, go, go!" Darius exclaimed, much to the frustration and chagrin of the front-most recruits. "Argh..." "I almost had it!" They cried out under their breaths as they were made to go to the back of the line, and the next set of recruits advanced towards the unlit piles of wood.
"Ah, darn it!" A recruit cried out. They had managed to conjure forth a small flame while waiting, but as they ran to the front it died out. They had cupped the small floating spark between their hands, but it fizzled out before it could reach the kindling. "Recruit!" said Darius. "Ah- wha- Yes sir!" They replied as they frantically tried to focus and create a new flame. "Starting a flame is one thing, keeping it lit is another! It's like a rope flying in the wind that you have to catch. Once you've grasped it, do not let go. The strength you used to summon it forth, you must keep going!" said Darius. "Yes, sir!" The recruit replied. "Understood?" Darius said, now towards the rest.
"Yes, sir!" They all exclaimed. "Trying to train all these recruits to unlock and develop their flame seems challenging." Siegmund said, as the two of them stepped away from the recruits. "It would be ideal if they had mentors for each of them to do one-on-one teaching..." He added. "Hmph, if they were royalty that could be the case. But the situation's far from ideal. Most of the knights who are skilled enough to teach are in the battlefield, or are responsible for the training of the actual knights. It's a miracle that even this much of them are this good at their flame. So I make do: I make them light fires to boil some water, the others I make them light kindling and start a fire. Whether its using their flame, or the normal way using sticks and stones; that way they can try to make a flame with practical application in mind. Aside from that..." Darius walked over towards the recruits.
"Come on recruits! Make a flame like your life depends on it! What if you're in a winter storm and the only thing that stands between you and freezing to death is your flame? What if your only ace in the battlefield is to burn down the enemy keep? Your flame is the pride of your kingdom! The blood of dragons flow in you! Do it not for yourselves, but for your family and your countrymen! Is that understood?" Darius exclaimed. "Sir, yes sir!" The recruits cried in unison.
A recruit at the front produced a momentary spark strong enough to produce a flame at the pot below. The recruit then raced to the river to acquire water. The other recruits stormed off in a huff. They went to collect nearby twigs and dried leaves to create their own flames independently. The recruits behind Victoria were doing the same. "A little pressure ought to do the trick." Darius said, chuckling. "However, there really are some that won't ever get their flames... That's something that you can't just summon up by force." said Siegmund. "True. Well, the way of force worked for me, and it worked for you too." Darius remarked.
"But sometimes, there are those who are skilled with it from the get-go." Siegmund said, looking towards Victoria. She had stood up, and was now leisurely walking towards the water, with the large iron pot in tow. The iron pot sizzled as it touched the water and she calmly lowered it beneath the surface and filled it up. She then walked back and displayed her prize onto the metal frame above the fire. 'Hmm... That pot wasn't cold when she picked it up. It seems like she also mastered resisting higher temperatures. She's mastered more of the flame than I when I was her age... Though, it could just be that she has built up her physical resilience naturally...' Siegmund thought.
"Do you guys need me to light your fires too? Just say the word. It'll be faster, you know." Victoria said. "Shut up Victoria!" "Stick your fire where the sun doesn't shine!" A few recruits cried out. "Victoria." Darius remarked sternly. "Alright sir Siegmund, I was just trying to offer help..." She said, insincerely. Victoria walked and sat in clear view of the recruits and began making small fire after small fire, extinguishing them and remaking them once more.
"Tsk, she's doing that on purpose..." "She's always doing something like that..." "Guys, just ignore her. Focus on your own flame. If you want to get back at her, then not paying attention to her, and getting better at your flame is what you guys have to do." Ashley remarked. "You're right." "Yeah." The other recruits remarked. "What's the matter, I'm just practicing my flame. Is that not allowed? Are you saying that I should stop training?" Victoria asked smugly. "Hmph." Ashley exclaimed. The recruits then continued harder to use their flame, though even if some of them produced a fire, it would not be strong enough to ignite the wooden pile below them.
"Haa!" With a loud yell, the second fire had been lit by a recruit. "Yeah!" "Let's go!" Some of the recruits cheered on as the bright orange wisp danced vividly atop the wooden pile of kindling. The recruit then grabbed the iron pot, ran down towards the water and went back up with a full pot and placed it above the fire. "Hey, come on! I was going to be next, I would have lit that fire!" The next recruit said. "Well sorry, I did it first." The other recruit answered. "You're always running up to the front and trying to overtake everyone else!" "Then maybe you should just run faster!" The first recruit said. "Guys!" Ashley yelled out.
The recruits turned towards her, and she was looking at Darius who was looming nearby. "Recruits!" He said, and they awaited the worst. "Switch!" Darius remarked. The recruits then breathed a sigh of relief, as the remaining recruits walked forward. "The others... Go!" Darius added, walking away. Ashley was one of those next to face an unlit pot. "Cheering over an inconsequential victory, then squabbling among themselves the next moment. How dull-witted..." Victoria remarked, in front of Ashley. She stared Victoria down sternly started a fire below her gaze unbroken. Ashley looked straight towards Victoria until she turned towards the other recruits behind her to apologize. "Sorry everyone." Ashley said sincerely as she walked past them.
"It's alright, Ash." "Tsk, you're sorry are you?" "I guess I should have been faster..." "You should have let me go first, you always light the fire and leave nothing for us." "You say that but you can't even use your flame." The handful of recruits behind Ashley in the line spoke amongst themselves before they walked off. Ashley went to fill up the pot and when she came back, Victoria was still there waiting for her. "An easy task for you, as always." Victoria said, with a smile. "Hmph." Ashley remarked. "Well, let's not waste any more time. While 'they' continue to fiddle around with their defective flames, let's make some actual progress and polish our skills." Victoria said, turning around and walking off. But Ashley instead went towards the other recruits, who were still struggling.
"Honestly, I can't understand how these- Huh?" Victoria remarked, thinking that she was still talking to Ashley. She turned around to see Ashley crouched down near a recruit who was struggling to light a pot fire. "Hey Ash, I... just can't seem to get my flame going. And, and... Darius is going to make us switch soon." The recruit said. "Maybe, maybe we should do this the normal way if you can't-" "No, I can! I just..." The recruit interrupted Ashley's suggestion.
The recruit flicked their fingers forward, and small sparks flew. "See! I just need a little more time..." They remarked. "Oh! Alright, alright. Just don't rush it... Concentrate and build up for just one strong push! When... When my flame wasn't all that strong, I focused on just giving it all in one blast! Then I could make a strong enough spark to light a fire." said Ashley. "Okay, what... How exactly do I do that?" The recruit asked her. "Uh, well... First, close your eyes." She remarked. "And, and then? What do I do?" "Then uh, really imagine making a great big fire! And think about why you need to start a fire." "What... How?" They asked her. "Well you want to use your flame right now, right?" "Yes!" "And you want to do well in training, right?" "Yeah!" "Why?" Ashley wondered, trying to think of a reason.
"Well..." "Uh, maybe for your family? Because you want to be a great knight?" Ashley suggested. "Because... I want to!" The recruit exclaimed. "So think about that, hold that thought in your mind. Then... push! It's kinda like trying to get past being constipated." The recruit then tried to stifle their laughter. "It's true! It's true. You focus on that feeling, you focus on making that great big bonfire... Then you push!" "Haa!" The recruit exclaimed, and a faint spark flew from their hands. "1, 2, 3, push!" "Haa!" The spark turned into a stronger flash, but it only lasted a moment.
"Alright, recruits. Switch!" Darius remarked. "Ash, I can't do it! There's no more time! I..." "It's fine, keep going! 1,2,3 push!" Ashley exclaimed. "Come on recruits, back of the line!" Darius said, as some of the recruits stopped momentarily to watch the recruit Ashley was helping. Darius walked over towards them. "Come on." Darius said. "Ash, I..." The recruit opened their eyes. "What's the matter recruit, I was speaking to the others." Darius asked.
The recruit looked down in surprise and saw they had lit the fire below. "Now complete your task." said Darius. "Yes, sir!" The recruit said, running towards the river. Darius then walked towards Ashley. "Hmph, I was afraid you were going to light the fire for a recruit again." He remarked. "It's... a good thing that I didn't, sir." Ashley said, shyly. "Better to know a bitter truth than to believe a false hope, it would have done more harm than good and besides... Are you going to do it every single day?" Darius said, before turning around and walking off. Ashley smiled sullenly, but she could not answer back to him.
"Well... I didn't expect that one to have a chance at unlocking their flame. But... still a waste. Those like us with talent are primed to reach the peak with some polish. But those whose flames burn weakly, effort will be only wasted to turn the unable into the passable..." Victoria remarked. "So you're saying that we should leave others to themselves and not to help them? We're training to be knights, right?Our duty is to the people, and to the kingdom. We're supposed to help others!" Ashley exclaimed.
Victoria was taken aback by this sentiment. "Well, you are correct that this is our duty... But are you going to help every single citizen and every needy weakling that comes begging for help? You won't be a knight, you'll be a slave... Though, if that is your decision and so be it. Just keep what I said in mind..." Victoria said. As Victoria walked away, Ashley was left with conflicting thoughts. Then, the recruit Ashley helped returned with iron pot in tow. "Ash, Ash! Can you..." They were struggling to carry it back to the fire. "Oh, yes, yes." Ashley said, quickly getting to her feet. The recruit almost spilled the iron pot full of water, and Ashley went and supported it from the other side.
"Hmph, I reminded you last time not to fill the pot up with too much water..." Ashley remarked. "Sorry... It's just I thought that I could do it and then I couldn't..." The recruit answered. "Alright... But just try to carry less next time, if you can't handle it." Ashley said, as they placed the pot down atop the fire. "I know, its just... I wanted to carry more and, I can't just keep carrying light things all the time or else I won't get stronger." The recruit exclaimed. "Alright, alright. Just... carry a little bit heavier than you do last time." Ashley said, as she dusted herself off after they placed the pot down. "I will!" The recruit replied, as Ashley walked back.
"Hey Ash, can you pick that up for me?" "Sure." She remarked as she picked up a nearby flint that rolled away from a recruit. "Here." Ashley handed it back to the recruit who then went ahead to toil away at making a fire without a word. 'Well, must be busy...' Ashley thought, surprised at the lack of a response. "Hey Ash, help me up!" A recruit said, seated on the floor. "Hmph... You can get up by yourself this time..." Ashley answered. "But, my arms are tired from making the fire." The recruit said. "Alright, hold out your hand then..." She remarked, with a sigh.
"Hup. You're the best!" The recruit said, patting Ashley's back and walking away. "Yeah, yeah... Wait. You weren't one of those who lit a fire already, and you weren't making a fire back there..." Said Ashley. "Thanks, really! I meant it! Can you help me find some sticks and leaves around here?" The recruit said a distance away. "Hmph..." Ashley exclaimed. "Just kidding!" The recruit said. "Ash, light this fire for me!" Another one remarked. "You don't... You don't really need to light a fire with your flame. You can just light a fire the normal way, and this part of training isn't really required... Because not everybody gets their flame, its fine if some of us can't do it. Some of the great knights in our kingdom's history didn't need a flame..." Ashley explained.
"But... I don't want the normal way when the others have their flames... And can you not talk so loud, I don't want the others to see that I can't use my flame yet. I told them all that I'll show them my flame now, so... Can you please light it, just for today. I promise I'll do it by myself tomorrow." The recruit pleaded. Ashley put her hands on her hips and frowned. She looked around to see some of them were already whispering amongst themselves about the recruit who could not back up their claim.
It was then that Victoria walked up to them and said: "Oh my, it looks like somebody can't use their flame. And worse yet, you're trying to use the gullibility of others to cover up your lack of talent. If you'd just tried the normal way or accepted your lack of talent without cheating, I would respect you. Though, you'd still be pathetic uh... What was your name again?" Victoria asked. "It's-" "Ah, it doesn't matter! For someone as unskilled as you, your name is irrelevant to history. For someone as hopeless as you, you can't even attempt to try! You'd better off going back from whatever crevice the knights pulled you out from." Victoria went closer and spoke nearly in a whisper for her last sentence. She left the recruit silent and facing down towards the ground, and Ashley bewildered.
"Victoria, hey!" Ashley exclaimed, before quickly tending to the recruit. "Are you... alright?" She asked. Ashley saw the recruit had tears in their eyes, but had a sour expression towards her. "Hey..." Ashley said, in a soothing manner. "You... you guys are all the same... You only care about yourselves and your stupid training... Go! I know you hate me and don't want to help me anyway... You two are so selfish..." Ashley had no answer to her fellow, but she stood and went to confront Victoria. "Hey, Victoria!" Ashley exclaimed. Some of the other recruits turned towards her. "What is it? You're causing some of them to lose their concentration..." Victoria asked, unperturbed.
"What- What is it? Back there! What was that!" Ashley snapped. "Oh, that. That was just a bit of, well... Helpful encouragement!" Victoria remarked. "Helpful encouragement? Look at what you did. They're in tears!" said Ashley. "Settle- Settle down... My, my. You're in quite a huff..." Victoria said, trying to calm Ashley down. "I'm... pretty 'settled'. Now talk." She answered. "You're acting quite frightfully, but on my explanation... You say look at them, but it looks like you're the one who isn't looking closely." said Victoria. "Huh?" "Look." Victoria pointed towards the aforementioned recruit. They had tears in their eyes yes, but they were possessed by a newfound fervor and were spurned to action. They were now taking to action in starting a fire, albeit not in the most effective manner.
"Well, it worked. That's unexpected, coming from them..." Victoria remarked. "They're..." Ashley remarked. "Finally getting to work." Said Victoria. Ashley was silent. "Hey chump! You're doing it wrong! You're just putting soil and dirt on the tinder!" Victoria had put her hands to her mouth as she called out to the recruit. The recruit looked towards her, angrily wiped tears from their face, and continued to bang two random stones together. "Really, even when someone as weak as them tries... It's useless even if they do." Victoria said, chuckling.
"Victoria, that's enough." Ashley remarked. Victoria laughed. "I was just joking. Yes, it was just a bit of a laugh..." Victoria's expression suddenly became serious. "You... you still haven't explained how exactly you're helping..." Ashley said, grumpily. "Ah, yes I'd forgotten. Well, let me explain." Victoria said as she wiped tears from her eyes that arose from her earlier laughter. "There's two outcomes from all of this. Actually there's a number of things that could happen, though they can be narrowed down into two options. One, that they're able to excel through years of training and can be on their way to become one of the proud knights of the kingdom. Or, they can leave or are forced out of training to go back to their lives and do... Whatever they still can do I suppose." Said Victoria, enumerating the numbers one and two with her hand as she spoke.
"And the third... are those who don't want to take this seriously don't deserve to be one of the knights. Either they'll be too inadequate and are forced out, rightfully so. Or, they'll continue and grow into incompetent soldiers... Similar to the likes of many in the knights now. And they'd be more of a detriment to the knights then. And so those who remain must be committed and ready, lest they do harm to themselves and the kingdom." Victoria explained. Ashley then put her hands to her hips and looked towards the ground. She appeared deep in thought. "Well, that all sounds true in practice... But those who are weaker, shouldn't be left behind. The capable can help those who can't help themselves. That way, all of us... If we all help each other grow stronger... We can help ourselves, and everyone else! At least... that's what I think." Ashley protested.
"That's..." "Naive, I know. But..." Victoria started but Ashley continued. "If you know, there's no use in me lecturing you about it. Its a fool's errand, but do as you please." Victoria remarked, sauntering off giving snide remarks and unapproving stares to the others. Ashley sighed and went to look for other recruits to help. Sethan looked solemnly as he watched the exchange that just transpired. "Next group!" Darius exclaimed. "Come on, brother!" Asralyn said, as she gently tried to push Sethan forward. "Oh, sorry." He feebly answered, his mind still being on the conversation he overheard.
"Sethan, don't stare too long. Some people don't like being watched." Metas remarked, as the three moved forward together. "Sorry, I'll... try not doing it again." Sethan answered. Metas was next in line to light a fire, Sethan and Asralyn were behind him watching. "Hmm... Hey Big Bro, why are always in the back? I want to light some fires too!" Asralyn exclaimed. "We've practiced lighting fires in the wild before, so you two already know how. Plus, I thought you didn't want to start fires. You said it was too tiring." Metas said as he bent down and furtively brought out a bundle of dry tinder, as well as a small piece of metal and a tiny chunk of strange stone.
"I mean lighting a fire the normal way. Using my flame!" Asralyn whispered. "Hmm? You got your flame already? I was sure you would be showing it off and playing with it all day." Metas said as he started on starting a fire. "Hmph! I... I wouldn't do that! Anyway, I don't have a flame yet. But maybe if it was my turn to light a fire, maybe I'll be able to get it!" Asralyn exclaimed. "Ah, so its as I thought. Please don't try that, I don't want you two to embarass yourselves." Said Metas. "It might happen!" Ashley exclaimed.
Metas successfully started a fire, picked up the metal pot, filled with water and placed it atop the flames with relative ease. He turned to Sethan who appeared to have a lot on his mind. The three of them then walked to the side as the next set of recruits moved in. "Anything wrong Sethan? You seem quiet." Said Metas. "It's... nothing." Sethan lied obviously. "Are you... thinking about what those two were talking about earlier?" Metas asked. "Well... yeah." Sethan remarked. "Come on brother, you know we know that you aren't very good at lying." said Asralyn. "Well, neither are you..." Metas replied. "Hmph..." Asralyn pouted.
"I was just thinking... I want to help everyone, but I know I can't. And you know I didn't like that we just keep to ourselves and we don't involve ourselves with others. Still, I understand why you'd want that for us and..." Sethan said slowly, trying to put his thoughts into words. Metas put a hand on his younger brother's shoulder and said: "Sethan, its fine to think that way. But, I just want you two to be safe and..." "Think realistically..." Asralyn imitated her eldest brother. "Maybe one day... When you two grow strong enough to protect yourselves... You'll be able to hold true to your convictions..." Said Metas. "Uh, what does that mean?" Asralyn asked. "Well, it means that you'll be strong enough to back up and follow up on what you believe in." Metas answered.
"We can't help everyone, because then we won't be able to take care of ourselves and everyone at the same time... But maybe if we're strong enough, we'll able to help as much people as we can." Sethan said to himself. There were only two fires to be lit. Two vertical columns of recruits remained which included Liam. And since Sethan and Asralyn left with Metas, there were only three recruits still in front of the pots. Across from Liam was one recruit, the other was behind him. The one across from Liam was furiously trying to light the tinder with their flame, but only produced feeble sputtering sparks.
"Hey, you should stop that. When you're up against Liam, it's best that you give up. It's only a waste of effort trying to beat him. But, please feel free to. He's in no rush, and he won't mind!" Victoria taunted. "Tsk, Victoria... You can see I'm trying!" The recruit cried out. Liam knelt down, having finished his slow walk forward. He then raised his arm forward. "Hmm... Hah!" The other recruit exclaimed as they created a small wave of flame. However, the flames suddenly flew and landed in the kindling in front of Liam. "Sorry." Liam absentmindedly remarked. "And Victoria... I can speak for myself." He added.
The recruit behind Liam shrugged and left, and the recruit "competing" with him sighed in defeat. The flame quickly fed through the embers and Liam carried the pot to the river, filled it with water and set it down with ease. "Whoa, Liam's flame is a sight to see!" "I always wonder how he does that..." "If he only could make fire of his own..." The recruits remarked. Sethan looked to him with awe. 'Strength... To hold true to our convictions. If I'm not strong enough for myself, I can't help anyone...' The boy thought. "Next!" Darius remarked, but there was no one left in line. "Isn't there any of you brats willing to go forward?" He asked, but no one came forward.
Darius walked to a nearby recruit who was doing nothing and twiddling their thumbs. "You. You lost the chance to participate, this is your time to prove yourself to the kingdom!" "Wha- What? Uh..." The recruit remarked. "I'll do it!" Sethan remarked. Asralyn looked to her brother with surprise. Metas put a hand on Sethan and asked: "Are you sure? You can still-" "Brother, I'm... Honestly, no. But... I can't exactly say no, now..." Sethan said, looking around to see everyone staring. Siegmund rubbed his chin in thought at this proclamation.
"Oh?" Victoria remarked. "Another day, another chance to see you fail. How exciting!" She exclaimed. "Hmph." Sethan looked towards her with scorn. "Please, prove me wrong." said Victoria. The recruits began clamoring around with interest, though many were simply awaiting Sethan's impending humiliation. "Recruit. forward!" Darius commanded, and Sethan complied. "Good luck brother!" Asralyn said as she nudged him forward. As he walked forward, the chatter of the others continued.
"Hey, he's the one who helps me sometimes. I hope he doesn't embarrass himself... If he fails, everyone's going to make fun of him and he'll be an outcast, more than he already is..." Lert remarked. "At least he has his siblings here, he isn't truly alone... And making a declaration like that, he's just setting himself up to embarrassment if he can't do it. It's his fault if he talks large but can't bring action to his words." said Endro. "Well..." Lert remarked.
Liam briefly looked over towards Sethan and the racket of the recruits, and then ignored it and continued minding his own business and not caring. Ashley was trying to teach a young recruit how to unlock their flame as she noticed the recruits gathering around something. "One second, I'm just going to see what's going on." Ashley said, worried that Victoria was up to something once again. She walked past the crowd until she came upon Victoria snickering while Sethan was the center of attention and was doing something under the command of Darius. "This is gonna be good..." Victoria said to herself. "Victoria... What did you do?" Ashley asked. "What, blaming me? What on earth would make you think I'm responsible for every thing that happens here?" Victoria said sarcastically before laughing. "Surprisingly, it wasn't me this time." She remarked. "What? So, what exactly is happening?" Ashley asked, confused.
"Sir Darius wanted one of the more incompetent or lazy recruits to use or unlock their flame. A desperate attempt to be sure, but nothing much we can do considering the inconsistent and unknown nature of unlocking one's flame. The old man went to the nearest recruit he could find, and the boy fancied himself a hero and stepped in. If I was in his position, I would have left it alone. Its not worth the effort just to embarass yourself." Said Victoria. Sethan bent down in front of a pile of wood at Darius' feet. "Recruit. Begin! Prove your worth to the kingdom as one of its bright flames that will burn its enemies away!" The instructor exclaimed.
Sethan felt his heart racing as he readied himself for his task. He could feel the stares from the others like insects crawling on his skin. He looked around but quickly focused his gaze back down as he suddenly felt dizzy at the attention all around him. Sethan's sweat dripped down from his forehead onto the ground like droplets of rain. He focused his attention onto the flammable tinder, and held out his hands towards them. 'I... need to focus, if I'm going to do this I need to concentrate...' Sethan thought. He recalled the words of Siegmund and things he overheard from the recruits who had already unlocked their flame. 'Put my mind's flame into reality... Think about the sensation... The heat between your hands... I have to want it, bring what I want and make it real...'
"Hmph..." Sethan strained as he tried to create a flame. Seconds felt like minutes as Sethan tried to summon up a flame with no avail. The silence was awkward and grew more uncomfortable for most of the parties involved. 'I can't, I... I have to. I... Why can't I...' Sethan struggled. "Kid, that's enough." Siegmund remarked. Sethan looked towards him with hopelessness in his eyes. Sethan then turned towards Metas and Asralyn. His sister had her head hung low, feeling sadness for her brother. Metas shook his head as he looked towards Sethan to signal him to give up. Sethan sighed deeply and then dropped his hands to the ground with his hands facing upwards.
"Recruit. Since you were so eager to rise up but failed... You have earned yourself another ten laps around the course, and ten more push-ups! Normally, if I punish someone its over twice the amount. But because you were so willing, I'm going easy this time!" Darius said to him. "Listen up!" The instructor said to the others. "It's good to be eager and willing to get to action, but it's important to consider your limits as well! If you're too confident in yourself and go into battle without the proper mettle, then you're only going to get yourself and others killed! Others might think it to be valiant, but you are only giving the life of one of the kingdom's soldiers away to the enemy! However, Lodeleth's knights can still fight in other ways. That's why you recruits need to become stronger. And..." Darius then picked up a rock and a few sticks from the ground. "You could have done it the regular way." He said as he dropped them to the floor.
"He's right, I could've!" Sethan remarked to himself in realization. "Recruit, you may proceed." Darius said as he walked off. "Sir Darius, I-" Metas exclaimed in protest but Sethan interrupted him. "Brother. I... have to do this. I brought this onto myself and... it's my fault." Sethan said as he began to run. "Sethan!" Metas called out but his younger brother did not respond. Sethan rubbed his eyes as he ran and the stares of the others followed him for a few seconds.
But afterward the silence broke into conversation once more. "That was disappointing..." "All that fuss just for nothing..." "Hmph, why did he accept if he couldn't do it anyway..." "What a waste of time, let's go to the next part of training..." The recruits chatter continued, but now with a new topic of frustration. Though few of them still paid any attention to Sethan who was running laps around the grounds. "Brother... Maybe I shouldn't have pushed him..." Asralyn remarked. "No, he would've done it even if you encourage him. I... shouldn't have said that nonsense about strength. I was putting my own beliefs onto him, and if somebody could have stopped him it should have been me..." Said Metas.
"Recruits!" Darius called out towards all of the recruits. Siegmund though went towards Sethan alone. "The next phase of training begins now!" said Darius. The recruits awaited nervously and eagerly, though many simply wanted training to be over with and return home. In the front of the crowd, Victoria had a wide smile and was stretching her arms in an eager fashion. "Finally, this is my favorite part..." She muttered. Liam sighed deeply and cracked his knuckles. Ashley breathed in and out deeply in preparation.
"The next part of training is combat simulation. You recruits will be paired with each other and given wooden weapons for mock combat training! For the past weeks and months you have received... some minimal experience with wooden training weapons and the culmination of those efforts will be realized today." Darius continued. Metas patted Asralyn's back as he tried to shift their focus back onto their training. "Let's.. go." He remarked as they re-joined the crowd. "Aww... I don't like combat training. I'm no good at it..." said Lert. "It's necessary if you want to become a knight. Can't become a soldier fighting for the kingdom if you can't fight. And you especially are a pushover..." said Endro. "Says the one who cried at the first sign of a fight... At least I didn't back down from you..." Lert replied. "Sh-Shut up! This time I'm going to prove myself!" Endro said, walking away in a huff. Though Lert felt a second of satisfaction he soon frowned from feeling guilty in insulting Endro.
As Darius continued recounting his instructions, Sethan was running and completing his laps. 'I... can't hear what he's saying, but he's said it enough times for me to remember.' He thought, as he glanced back towards the instructor. 'They're going to be randomly paired and each recruit picks a wooden weapon of their choice. But its mostly just us waving these things around towards each other. Back when there were more teachers they could at least help teach us how to hold and swing our weapons properly... But as is, this is all the kingdom can spare...' But then he noticed Siegmund who was jogging towards him. "Sethan!" The knight said, calling the boy's attention. "Sir Siegmund." Sethan replied, as he slowed his pace so Siegmund could catch up. The young boy looked towards the other recruits, to see if they were still watching him.
"Sir Siegmund, you shouldn't be talking to me... The others, they're going to think that I'm being unfairly coached by you." said Sethan. "Sethan, my boy. Do you... resent me for not defending you in front of Darius?" Siegmund asked. "I don't. Brother taught me that all of our actions have consequences. I tried to do something and I failed, now I have to face the consequences of my actions. If you stuck out for me, that means that I didn't face the proper punishment and that's unfair. That's also why if you talk to me, the others might think you're helping me..." Sethan remarked. Siegmund chuckled. "Metas taught you well. But don't you worry about me, I can handle myself quite well... Besides I'm not giving you an unfair advantage, I just want to talk. Nothing wrong about two people talking..." Siegmund said proudly. "I see." said Sethan, his mood slightly brightened.
The two of them then reached the part of the grounds where the other recruits were listening to Darius. "-And that concludes..." Darius then noticed the pair running behind him. He turned around as the recruits attention went from him to the two. "Don't mind us, just carry on with your training!" Siegmund exclaimed. "Sir Siegmund, isn't it unfair if one recruit gets outside help and training that the rest of us don't have access to?" Victoria asked. "Helping him? I'm simply doing some exercise, nothing wrong about that, right? And I'm going to help you all with training later!" Siegmund said as he and Sethan ran out of earshot.