We all stood and watched as the wagon carried our instructor and Master Jin away. Slowly everyone turned their attention to me, waiting for me to give them direction. Despite the heavy contests and training, it was only midday. I took a moment and let my eyes wander, looking at each cadet individually. For some reason, I was hesitant to begin; the weight of leadership was beginning to make itself known.
I am responsible for their lives, I thought as I looked at each of them in turn. I desired to do right by them; I wanted each of them by my side on the battlefield when it came time to fight for Almira. At the military academy, as long as they performed well in the tournament, trainees would attend for two years. In the end, the class with the best standing would be eligible for training to become members of the Royal Order—knights in both name and creed. This elite program made up the dreams of many. Familiar conviction gripped me. I felt it strengthening my resolve. We would make it to Knight School , and I would be see us there.
I quickly gathered my wits and shouted out to those before me.
"Everyone gather ‘round! We don’t have much time before we face our next challenge. I suspect that in three days we''ll have an opportunity to measure ourselves against the other classes. In short, we have just over two days to secure an advantage over our opponents.”
I saw grave faces nodding in the crowd. The weight of responsibility wasn’t for my shoulders alone. Each cadet here wanted to test themselves against their opponents and prove their worth. Expectations were high, and the only acceptable outcome was victory. Seeing I had everyone’s attention, I forged ahead.
“We have three goals. Become a cohesive, well-coordinated unit, streamline our camp’s development, and prepare for war. To that end, mandatory physical training starts tomorrow morning. No exceptions.” I glanced toward my lords and knights. They nodded, though I noticed some reluctance on the part of Jack. “Everyone will be assigned tasks for day to day necessities, from cooking and hunting to building and gathering water. Finally, for the next two evenings, we will form into squads and practice fighting in individual units. That being said, I think we can all agree we’ve had our practice for the day. Lords will pick their squads, assign duties, and begin training for coordination as a unit. I don’t expect perfection—yet. But I do expect camaraderie. Take the rest of the day to get to know each other, meet those in your squad, and enjoy some good food and rest. There will be little of the latter until we reach day three."
A mixture of emotions played across the faces of my new countrymen; some of them bore intense expressions, hungry for battle. Others looked relieved at the news of a short respite. Still others managed to look as excited as I felt. I allowed them to murmur for a moment before raising my hand for silence.
"Before we move on, this is how we will be forming into squads. Each knight will be assigned primary objectives and take on three soldiers who excel in the skill sets necessary to accomplish them. Liz will be in charge of building and crafting, Mira will lead the hunting and scouting efforts, Duck will manage food production and preparation, and Jack will lead our team of laborers in charge of stockpiling resources and expanding territory. Before the day is over, I expect each of you to seek out the leader you wish to serve under. They will judge if you are fit to join their squad. With that, you are all released to start the feast and to seek out your new comrades."
A spontaneous cheer erupted from my men’s ranks at the prospect of good food after a hard day’s work. I motioned for Derek, Kate, and Brad to remain at my side while the rest headed back to camp.
I turned my attention to my lords and squire with a confidence I didn’t feel, but knew they needed. Stability was key. My men needed to trust their king, and that meant trusting those I put in place to lead them. My lords needed to know they could count on me—needed to know I was as sturdy as an ancient oak. If their confidence in me slipped, so too would the knights and soldiers.
"Lords, and squire” I began with a nod of respect, “your schedules will look a bit different. How competent are your reading and writing skills?" They looked at me, confused. Kate was the first to speak.
"I can read a few basic words, but I''ve never learned how to write."
"Sounds like I''m drinking from the same tankard," Brad piped up.
I nodded, expecting as much. I turned to Derek, raising my eyebrows in question. He looked almost embarrassed when he replied, "I was taught how to read and write at a passable proficiency." That''s a pleasant surprise. I smiled at him. "That''s great to hear; that will save us some time." Turning to the other two, I grinned, "It''s your lucky day; you have been accepted into the accelerated reading program! Over the next few weeks, I will give you lessons, and you will take every free moment to practice reading and writing." They looked back at me with wide eyes as it dawned on them what I was saying.
"Steven, I hardly want to turn away such a precious gift, but I have to ask, why would you take the time to teach us something so high above our station?" Brad asked.
"If a soldier waits until being enlisted to learn to wield a sword, his execution will be swift. If a king waits until he is enthroned to study statecraft, then he will quickly be proven a fool. On the other hand, everyone desires to be led by a wise King and rejoices when they come to power. And every soldier who is a master of his craft becomes a champion to his allies and a powerful tool to his leaders. In two years'' time, you won''t be simple soldiers. If I have my way, our class will be accepted into elite training, and we will all be thrust into a world beyond our station. That is where you come in. We have a whole class that will need teaching in literacy as well as other subjects, and you will be their teachers."
All three of them gaped at me. I stood my ground, not a flicker of doubt crossing my face. Eventually, they each kneeled one by one.
"May it be as you have spoken," they said in unison, as was the custom in our nation when receiving a blessing. The mantle of responsibility that I carried didn''t lift, but perhaps it grew lighter as I looked at the three in front of me. We had a mountain to climb, but I wouldn’t be climbing alone. I dismissed my inner circle to confirm the squads their knights had chosen and join the festivities, promising to accompany them soon.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding as they walked away. Dealing with people had never been my forte. All the reading I had done on leadership hadn’t nearly prepared me for the real thing. Books had always given me tools, but it was my duty to learn how to use them. Deciding that I would take some time for myself, I wandered to the edge of camp and sat at the base of a large tree just out of sight. Ah… Alone at last, I mused. Knowing how easy it was to lose track of your objectives amid the daily grind, I sat and reflected on my goals and vision for my time at the academy.
"Steven! Are you okay? The food is ready!"
It took me a moment to resurface from my thoughts. As my mind broke back into the physical world, I realized that I must have been meditating for a while. Someone had shouted for me…
"On my way," I replied, somehow managing to keep surprise from my voice.
Sometimes it felt like I slipped into another world when I closed my eyes. I attributed it to my gift, though it may have been my mind playing tricks on me. Regardless, every once in a while, it felt like time stood completely still. It could only have been an hour or so since I had sat down at the base of the tree, but it felt like I had spent half a day planning out the development of our nation. Somewhere in the process, inspiration had struck. I realized that I had been thinking of this all as a game—two years to prove myself and hopefully earn a spot in a higher-level training program. It was all just a simulation that I needed to solve. But now, that felt so childish, so small. We were no longer kids trying to make a name for ourselves at an academy; we were on the front lines. My goals had shifted. I would ensure that the efforts I gave in these two short years would leave a legacy—one that would change the landscape forever. I wouldn’t just win the games. I would dominate them.
"Hey man, are you coming or not?" Brad called out to me.
"Sorry, Brad, yeah, I am coming." I acquiesced. I already knew I would spend many sleepless nights preparing my mind for the challenges laid before me. With that in mind, there was no point in stealing from what little daytime I had left. There were benefits to living in the present. I rose and made my way to the rest of the class, Brad by my side. That''s when the smell hit me, and I realized that I was starving. I must have begun drooling because Kate ran over to me with a bunch of meat and boiled roots piled high on a slab of wood. She looked mildly concerned.
"Are you okay, Steven? You disappeared for a while, and now you look like a hungry beast." She broke into a smile as she spoke, and I couldn’t help but offer my own in return.
"Come on, let''s go sit down and eat together."
We had a pleasant evening, and I took the opportunity to learn more about my new comrades. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Duck grew up as a farmer, and was well suited to the role I had placed him in. I had already known that the other knights were fit for their rules, but he was more of a guess. I was also relieved to find out that it had taken little time for each of the squads to form, and though there were a few overlapping skill sets, the knights assured me that everyone in their squad was satisfied with their placement, and their Lords were confident that each squad would be capable of performing their duties. It felt good to sit together under the forest canopy, the smell of wood smoke filling the air, joining with the scent of rendered fat and charred mushrooms. It almost covered the smell of sweat and rank body odor that we had accumulated throughout the day. But even that wretched smell was one born of hard work, and there would be much more to comeThis story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
After a couple of hours, the shadows began to lengthen, and the air picked up a chill. Everyone had slowly moved closer to the substantial fire we had made in the center of the camp. There was a sense of camaraderie and anticipation fresh in the air. I stood and made my way to the front of the group, flames at my back, throwing shadows across the faces of those closest as I strode around the fire.
"Everyone, well done today,” I began, a note of pride in my voice. “There is much ahead of us—many achievements to claim, battles to fight, and great conquests that we’ll tell tales of for years to come. Today is the beginning of a time you will remember for the rest of your lives. So I urge you, don''t despise our humble beginning. One day we will look back and wonder at how we came so far." I paused and let my words sink in. Some faces nodded in the firelight, others appeared serious and stern, still others dared to smile in the face of the task before us. Satisfied that I had my men’s full attention, I continued. "As you all know, every other class is competing for the same prize. Each nation wants nothing less than to graduate from this academy and step into the military. But few have risked hoping for something more. As kids, we heard whispers of the fortunate few who were accepted into the Elite Training School. Many of us were laughed at for daring to reach for such a high position in the great nation of Almira, but today I do not come to you with mockery or malice. I come with hunger, ambition, and the will to fight for what is ours. If we choose, that dream that was once a childhood fantasy can become a reality. Two years. Two years is all it will take. And if you give everything you have, and everything you are, you will not regret it two years hence. But if you do not…” I let silence fill the air for a few short seconds. “Then you will regret it for the rest of your life. That being said, it will take everything that we have, and more than we knew we had, to claim our prize. And it is with this vision in mind that I call upon you all today. If you are willing to give everything you have, you can achieve more than you ever dreamed. I know many of you are here hoping to become officers, just trying to make it through the Academy so you can make your nation proud. You’ll find a post in the army at the end of all this, and that will be enough.” I paused, noting several nods from the audience before continuing with a shout. “But that is not enough for me!” A murmur swept through the crowd. “Nor is it enough for you. Perhaps a few of you aspire for more—the Elite Training School, and knighthood. Even now it seems more like a fairy tale than a possible reality. But I stand before you today to tell you that I will settle for nothing less! Whether you have the strength in your heart to fight for it or not, I will fight to bring each and every one of you to knighthood. It will take every single one of us pushing past our limits, but I''ve decided that''s the only thing worth aiming for. Are there any among you brave enough to join me?"
I''m not sure who started it, but quickly, a shout began to rise, echoing into the night.
"MAY IT BE AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN!"
"MAY IT BE AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN!"
"MAY IT BE AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN!"
~
The following day I woke early; I spent time meditating, planning, and warming myself up. Not long after sunrise, I woke up the rest of the camp. It''s easy to make lofty goals and promises on nights filled with fire in one’s heart and food in one’s belly, , but it''s the next morning that tests one’s resolve. Once everyone had gathered and had an opportunity to splash some water on their faces, I began with the day’s duties.
"Good morning, everyone; who is ready to see their promises fulfilled?" Several people responded with eager affirmations, others with bleary-eyed nods.
"If you find your motivation lacking, I can promise you one thing at the end of the night. For your sore muscles, you will have good food. For your weary minds, you will have good company. And for your stout hearts, you will have my respect.”
That seemed to get their attention. I watched as many shook sleep from their eyes, flexed their sore muscles in the morning cold, and prepared their hearts for war. Pride flickered in my own heart. This was a good place to begin. Encouraged, I forged ahead.
“Our typical morning routine will include warm-ups and physical fitness training led by myself. Your king will not sit idly by while his men train. Whatever strength you have in your bones, I will match with my own. Now your knights will organize you into pairs, and we will begin with shadowboxing." Everyone quickly organized according to their knight’s commands and set about their task. Once it appeared everyone was sufficiently warmed up, I turned our attention to sprints. Unsurprisingly, Kate outran the best of us by more than I care to admit. However, when we turned to bodyweight exercises for sheer strength, Kate flagged, while Derek and Brad outstripped the rest. We finished our morning exercises with a thorough stretching routine. Surprisingly, Mira was the most flexible among us. Eventually, I gave up leading the stretches and simply passed the role to her. She led us in some of the most intense yet satisfying stretches I had ever experienced. I made a mental note to talk to her about the capabilities of her squad later. After a solid hour of exertion, I excused everyone to clean themselves up while Duck and his Squad prepared breakfast.
Soon, everyone was sitting around the fire with a simple meal of the remaining meat from our hunt a couple of days prior.
"All right, everybody," I began, "let''s review our priorities for the next two days. First things first, as everyone was made aware this morning, it is a serious trek tothe nearest water source—20 minutes to the stream and back if you''re making good time. In order to address this, Jack and his Squad will be tasked with clearing a path to the stream. The less we need to worry about mundane tasks, and the more efficiently we execute them, the more time we have to prepare for battle. You may have noticed that our stores have run low. Mira and her team will set about hunting and building up our food stock. I expect a heavy surplus.” I eyed Mira and her squad. Mira didn’t even blink as I brought my gaze level with hers. I nodded and continued. “With that in mind,we will need a way to preserve our extra stores. I’ve spoken with Duck, and we decided that the easiest way to keep food initially is to craft a smokehouse where we can hang and dry the meat. Liz and her team will start by building the smokehouse, then they will move to crafting a shed. Finally, Duck''s squad will be in charge of foraging for vegetables and processing the meat and pelts that come in from the hunt. They will also ensure our water supply remains steady while the path is being constructed. Any questions?"
With no objections raised, I sent each squad on their way and told them that lunch would be just after noon. I assigned Derek to oversee Jack and Mira and had Kate manage Liz and Duck. At this point, though, there wasn''t much supervising for them to do, so I had Derek watch over operations while I began to teach Brad and Kate foundational literacy.
The rest of the day went by quickly. Construction of the smokehouse was progressing, the path to the river was nearly complete, and Mira had delivered meat aplenty. We had more than enough food to fill our bellies. After dinner, I gathered everyone in the center of the clearing. Once everyone was assembled, I began to detail our upcoming combat training regimen.
"Until further notice, we will have some group combat training every evening after dinner. I know we’re all well-versed in individual combat but we’re also new to group warfare, so it is imperative that we pick it up quickly. Tonight we will start by warming up in our squads, and seeing that we don''t have any weapons, Liz and her team have prepared a selection of simple wooden staffs for us to practice with. Form into squads, and take the next thirty minutes to spar individually among your team. After that, we will stage simple skirmishes between squads. Dismissed!"
I made my way over to Kate, Derek, and Brad, and we picked up some staves and began to spar amongst each other as well. It felt good to work up a sweat, even if I''d be covered in bruises.
Half an hour later, I had the teams face off against each other in squad-on-squad combat. Until it was dark, probably a good two hours later, we fought in skirmish after skirmish rotating our five groups with one sitting out for rest at a time. As our group had the most capable fighters, we gave each of the other squads a good thrashing, but I figured that was probably for the best. Throughout the night, Jack''s team had the most wins, followed closely by Miras''. When we finally made our way back to the camp, everyone was exhausted and dripping with sweat, so most, if not all of us, marched to the stream and rinsed off in the frigid water.
It was a successful day, I mused to myself; if we keep this up, our little campsite might actually start to look like something, not to mention our military strength. Who knows, maybe we will give the other classes a run for their money and whatever event this academy has planned for us. I grinned as I pondered the defeated look the other classes would have when they faced us in battle. I laid in bed for no more than a minute before I was out cold.
Another morning came too soon, but I knew I had to set the pace. I jumped out of bed and set about my personal morning ritual. I was pleased when Brad approached me before I had to wake anybody up and offered to raise the troop. Just like the day before, we started with a grueling workout and set about completing the day''s projects. By the time that evening came, Jack and his squad had managed to clear all of the underbrush on the way to the stream, making a rudimentary path. Their next task was clearing out more trees, as we would soon need more wood and space to create more buildings in our clearing.
For our military exercises, we practiced more large-scale fighting, so after warm-ups, I had Derek and Kate lead Jack and Mira''s squads against my squads of Liz, Duck, and Brad. We played a war game that I had read about called king of the hill. We made our way into the woods to an elevated area and marked a boundary with small logs, then took turns defending and attacking the position. It was terribly exhausting. Fighting in the trees was challenging; in the first few fights, the attackers struggled more against roots, trees, and underbrush than they did against the defending team. But as the night wore on, we improved. I would have liked to say that my exemplary leadership skills led my company to victory after victory, but of the six battles we fought, we claimed only two and we had to fight tooth and nail just for both of them. As we made our way back to the stream after another long day, I was pleased to see that we no longer looked like a group of strangers. In just four days, we had bonded and now easily laughed together as we shared blood, sweat, and cramped sleeping conditions. The previously unfamiliar forest that had initially greeted me as prey was starting to feel a bit more like home; I was enjoying the smell of the pine needles and the vibrant shades of green. More than anything, though, I was enjoying the fellowship. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by driven individuals who were willing to fight and claw their way up for something more.
"Tomorrow is the day that Sophia promised her return,” I said as we all gathered in the clearing once more. “After our morning exercise routine, we''ll have a larger than normal breakfast in preparation for her arrival. Get a good night''s rest. Leave your troubles for tomorrow—we’re bound to have plenty of them. Tonight, we gather our strength."
I bid everyone good night and found my little corner in the sleeping shack. I tried to take some time to strategize or imagine different scenarios we might have to work through the following day, but I barely stayed awake long enough to gently lay my head on the ground.