Blood, Sweat, Tears

“You’re being rather cruel”.

Lyshia, the assistant trainer and mage, shot a look at me, gauging my reaction to her words. Of course, I did not give her the satisfaction she wanted. I wouldn’t be distracted, not by someone who did not understand what was happening.

“Isn’t this too harsh, Gideon?” She sighed, gesturing at the crowd surrounding us. The smell of sweat and blood filled the air, metal swords clashing with loud clangs. If the numbers reported earlier were to be believed, nearly a thousand people had signed up to join the Vernian Army in this city. After the Claifenfield invasion, patriotism had skyrocketed within the country, leading to people enlisting.

However, even if they wanted to join, they are not guaranteed a position. For many millennia, the Vernian Army had held a high standard for its soldiers. Those who do not reach the bar will be sent back home, even if that means that there are only five new recruits per city.

“I’m looking for talent. Nothing less” I replied. Next to me, a man collapsed, unable to keep a hold of the heavy sword. This was the basic requirement required for being accepted into the army; to perform the sword kata given by the trainer. Yet, not a single person had been able to complete it, although an hour has passed since the gates opened.

Lyshia glared up at me, “You only showed them how to do it once. And it isn’t even a simple kata. Even advanced cadets struggle with this.”

I calmly take note of the cadet number on her badge, and keep a mental reminder to talk to her superior. Surely, if she had been accepted into the army, she would have a little more sense?

From a thousand, the number of recruits had reduced to merely five. Of those who had been eliminated, quite a few had collapsed from sheer exhaustion. But just as many had simply given up.

A blue-haired elf struggled to swing the sword, too heavy for her light build. But she managed to keep her balance and didn’t fall over.

A young fairy wearing muddied clothes stumbled through the movements, feet moving in an uncoordinated manner. But he had power in his thrusts and swings.

An old wrinkled gnome slowly followed the movements, many steps behind the other hopefuls. But her accuracy was unmatched, and she was the closest to actually finishing the kata.

A dwarf with odd piercings missed many of the correct slashes and parries. But he had a rare grace and swiftness.

A rather plain-looking human seemed rather talentless. He had no accuracy, power, balance, or speed. But although he kept falling over, he never stayed down.

I smiled, an expression rarely seen by others. “Those five,” I declared. “They have passed my test. From now on, they are cadets of the Vernian Army.”