It was day fifty-one since the arrival of team fifteen and team twenty at Ianal and day hundred and seven of the Scout Regiment. As the early rays of dawn illuminated the forest, two squads stood at the ready, wielding polished, strong guard swords and round shields made of Ironwood.
"Welcome to the beginning of weapon training." Commander Kanlor addressed them. "It becomes harder from here on out. Now, who has killed a man before?"
Liam, his confidence undiminished, raised his sword.
"Hands down Liam," Kanlor ordered, his gaze moving to Derek, whose attention was elsewhere.
Derek, lost in a memory of the man he'd killed, found himself faced with a gruesome vision. His breath coming in short gasps, he could see the rotting corpse of his victim, flies swarming the remains, the decaying flesh crawling with maggots.
The man, his eyes hollow and his nose falling away, greeted him with a grim smile. "Long time no see, old friend."
Derek, overcome with revulsion and panic, fled to the shelter of a nearby tree, where he retched, his stomach heaving.
As Derek fought to regain his composure, the others watched on, concern and curiosity etched on their faces. Alexander walked up to him, offering some measure of solace.
"How are you still having that problem?" he whispered, his voice gentle but insistent. "You can't have that in this stage of our training, Derek."
Derek wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, "I get it, not sure why that happened."
"How old were you when it happened?" Commander Kanlor asked, as Derek approached the line with Alexander.
"Fourteen, fifteen there about, Commander Sire," Derek answered, his voice steady but betraying a hint of unease.
"That explains your fighting style, you were trained to inflict serious damage on an opponent and kill if need be. Throughout the tournament, you were holding back."
As Kanlor's words washed over the team, Rave's hand instinctively reaching for his neck, shivered with the memory of his previous encounter with Derek. The rest of the team, now given a glimpse into their teammate's past, exchanged glances of understanding and respect.
"Who trained you?" Kanlor asked, his voice holding a hint of curiosity.
"Commander Jerome Lich," Derek replied.
The commander's face lit up with a smile. "That damn bastard," he chuckled. "We were on the same team during our Scout years. How is he?"
Derek's response was laced with uncertainty. "Not sure, last we spoke he was chasing a gang."
"Haven't changed one bit. He's fine allright. Jerome doesn't give up easily, always appearing at the right moment."
Derek and Alexander exchanged a look, the bond between them tightened by their shared memory of Jerome.
Kanlor's voice cut through the moment. "Back to our training. Alexander, I need a sparring partner."
"But I haven't used a sword before."
"That's perfect." Kanlor replied undauntedly.
"These words sound familiar, Alex. Go into full defense." Derek adviced, recalling his encounter with Lankins.
"Hold your shield up to protect your torso." Kanlor's voice seemed authoritative yet reassuring. "With that posture, it's easier to defend your head and rear."
"And my sword?" Alexander queried.
"You won't be needing it in this section." Kanlor's response was firm.
Before Alexander could digest the statement, Kanlor was already upon him, his sword swinging in a furious onslaught of attacks.
Alexander, thrown on the defensive, found himself moving backwards, his shield absorbing the brunt of the onslaught. But even with the protection, each impact jolted his hand, leaving it numb and aching.
Just as Alexander sought to turn the tables and deflect an attack, Kanlor, with lightning speed, switched his stance, causing Alexander's eyes to widen in recognition. Before he could react, Kanlor's sword thrust forward, knocking Alexander to the ground.
Dazed, Alexander opened his eyes to find Kanlor's sword resting on his shoulder, the skill used against him all too familiar, it was that which his father used against the Aquilae Knight to save him.
"I almost died, Sire," he gasped, panic laced in his voice.
"Well, you actually did die." He turned to the others. "Who is next?"
The team, shaken by the ferocity of Kanlor's display, pointed at Rave.
"Really?" Rave cowered back with them.
Kanlor chuckled. "Just asking, lads. Join your team, Alex." He reached down to help him on his feet. "Now listen up. What I just demonstrated is an advanced sword skill, only a few Knights can hone it. My job as your superior is to hone you to a basic and intermediate level. Getting to the advanced level, if you survive to Knighthood, depends solely on you." With these words, he hung his guard sword on his shoulder. "Now, down to the basics.
Time slipped by in a blur of drills and exhaustion, the weeks passing as the team struggled to perfect the basics of swordsmanship. Liam and Ivan, in particular, found themselves lagging behind, unable to grasp the fundamentals.
Kanlor devised a plan to strengthen their grip and increase their strength. Sending them back to the forests, they resumed chopping Ironwood, each strike of their axe a step towards mastery. Finally, they began to catch up, though not at the level of their teammates.
And so, with their skills honed, the team chose their weapons. Derek, Alexander, Rave, and Holms chose swords, while Ivan, Mark, Taven, and another from team fifteen selected spears. Liam and the last member of team fifteen, displaying remarkable talent for marksmanship, took up bows and arrows.
The intermediate drills continued, with Kanlor pushing the team to their limits. As Derek had planned, he alternated between swords and spears, pushing to master both.
Alexander, honing his skill with the blade, became the best swordsman in the group, even managing to land a single hit on Commander Kanlor.
Rave followed Alexander in his swordsmanship, putting up a valiant defense and surviving the onslaught long enough to earn his spot as the second-best swordsman in the group.
Derek, while not as proficient with the blade as Alexander or Rave, more than made up for it with his speed and agility, managing to evade the majority of Kanlor's attacks. His prowess earned him the title of third-best swordsman.
Day hundred and forty-nine of the Scout Regiment and day ninety-three of team fifteen and team twenty arrival at Ianal.
Gathered in front of Kanlor's home, the team stood at ease, an air of excitement and pride hanging about.
"Swear your allegiance," Kanlor demanded, and they saluted, repeating their vow in unison.
"As the moon slays the night, the stars shall keep its life."
"Congratulations on becoming first rare guards." He spoke proudly. "Today ends your reign as Scouts," Kanlor continued. "Your first rare guard armor is ready and your missions are set."
"Aye Commander Sire," they echoed back, their smiles beaming with pride.
"Not bad, Alex," Derek whispered. "But we still have a lot to cover."
"In no time, we will," Alexander replied, his eyes alight with determination. "And our dreams will come true."
As Commander Devon once told the Scouts back in camp, there are seven levels in the Azma ranks, Scout, First Rare Guard, Second Rare Guard, Soldier or Guard as selected, Knight, Commander and Captain.
"Team fifteen will be going to Lanile, a village south of here," Kanlor explained. "Your job is to protect the Chieftain of Lanile while the matter is being resolved."
"What about our weapons?" Holms asked. "Surely sticks and knives ain't enough to defend a head from angry folks."
"If you can't handle an amateur enemy with combat skills, sticks, and knives," Kanlor intoned, "do not think you can handle an experienced enemy whose sole mission is to gut and behead you."
"Aye, Commander Sire," the team replied, their voices united in agreement.
Kanlor shifted his attention to Derek and his team. "Team twenty."
"Aye, Commander Sire," Derek and his teammates answered, their voices ringing with respect.
"You will be going to the Clan of Ryue, north of here, your mission is to solve the recent kidnapping of young females."
"We are definitely going to need good weapons," Derek voiced his concern.
"I said solve Derek, not intervene." Kanlor spoke sternly.
"Oh!" Derek gave a reassuring smile.
Commander Kanlor, determined to leave no room for misinterpretation, clarified, "Derek, solve and report the situation. Do not attempt to intervene."
Kanlor turned his attention to Alexander, "Make sure to remind him."
"Aye, Commander Sire," Alexander replied with a nod of understanding.
Kanlor's gaze swept across the team. "Lesson fifty, when it comes down to taking a life, ask yourself this question - what will happen if it was your loved one in danger and you let the enemy live? Don't hesitate, don't look them in the eye. Do what you must to keep innocent lives safe, most especially your life."
"Aye, Commander Sire," the team chorused, their voices resolute.
"Your horses will arrive by tomorrow," Kanlor informed them. "Prepare yourselves for departure. Dismissed."