Chapter 025. A strange friendship built from fated meeting

It seems like the Saterina incidents was the highlight of the training today as nothing exciting happened after that.

Heath made sure he reminds them once again that the military didn't have any warm welcoming party for them before they were dismissed and sent back to their dorms to recover until dinner time.

Ha. That instructor really likes to implicitly spook people, does he?

“Hey. What’s our schedule for tomorrow?” Ayla yawned, stretching her arms while walking.

Miroh glanced at her exasperatedly, while she just gaze back calmly. Ayla basically forgotten the blue envelope that was given to them at the admission. Who would have known it was actually important papers.

“You never looked at the schedule!?”

“We’ll have the written exam and aptitude test tomorrow. Afterwards, it’s a vacant period in the afternoon.”

“By the way, our first class soon will be Armament 101. That’s one of our major courses this term.” Miroh swiftly replied after he got stabbed by Ayla’s sharp glance. Boss, his partner is really too much for this greenie’s first mission.

“Armament…that must be the time where we can choose our preferred weapons. So are they giving us tyrfings immediately?”

Miroh shook his head. “No. It’s just an introductory class to the weapons we can learn before getting a real tyrfing after graduation. The year is divided into two terms semiannually so our next courses after this term will progress from our previous lessons.”

This means that Armament 101 is a prerequisite class to a more advanced course of the topic next term. Ayla was actually impress to know such complex curriculum for training here. It basically follows the same structure as any other academic institutions in the Kingdom.

Those religious zealots wouldn’t just hand out tyrfings like some free samples to just anybody.“That make sense.” Ayla muttered, reaching out to fix her fringes only to realize her hair is short now.

“Ah. By the way, you have to hide your tyrfing very well. I think it’s better to choose a similar sword tomorrow to switch out your tyrfing later.” It’s an impediment that Ayla thought over after Miroh had to leave his tyrfing this time. A knight without his tyrfing close to his body is unwise.

Miroh nodded before sighing heavily. His steps seem to have staggered a little. “Yeah. I can’t shake the feeling of restlessness since earlier.” It was a strange feeling as something is tugging him to a direction.

“You’re resonating with your tyrfing so quickly.” Ayla remarked.

Some people do have unique constitutions that are well loved by many tyrfings, which made them easier than others to resonate more deeply to their tyrfing and reach that threshold to Intangible easily. They also have more freedom in terms of the type of weapons they can wield.

His innate aurora should be the main cause for stunting his progress on his own tyrfing. Vega had looked into it already, but she couldn’t find anything about Miroh’s peculiar condition as expected.

Everybody had took Ayla’s words and regard Miroh as a pseudo-saint. But unlike the saints, he couldn’t imbue his own aurora to other tyrfings as he will. It was very strange.

Is it a mishap by the heavens or a repercussion of man?

Ayla wasn’t sure. She never believe the crap about the goddesses and sacraments declared by the church. Because she knew that whatever religious ideology they follow to keep those girls in that dark cell is not one of Celestia.

“AYLA!”

“Huh?”

Ayla blinked slowly, glancing at Miroh blankly. His hand was on her shoulder after shaking her back to reality. Miroh never notice the darkness the flittered her eyes as it revert back to its placid coolness.

Miroh can’t help but to glance around the small alcoves of the hallways, recalling himself walking in these halls before. It feels very nostalgic like he was a visiting alumni.

The entire campus spread to the entire forest like a nation of its own swallowed by the forest. The military academy is separated into three main buildings. One for classes in theoretical discipline, the other for indoor physical training courses, and the last for the recruit’s dormitory.

All training fields are the size of a noble estate plotted in many locations each with different purpose such as obstacle courses, shooting ranges, and the ‘immersion outfield’.

“Ha…I have to take every course again. Some of the instructors here are the worst. We also need to take a lot of written exams.”

“I heard you have a good record here from Keid. In any case, you have an advantage from everyone.”

It’s true that he wasn’t one of the worst among his batch…but he also wasn’t one of the best. He’s among the average kids—the people that wasn’t under the instructor’s radar for being dumb or a genius.

The only time when he stand out was when he chose to enter the ‘Third option’ resolutely.

“Yeah. But retaking here feels like I was really demoted. I haven’t contacted my older sister yet so I expect her to be upset about the news.”

“Why haven’t you told her yet?”

“Sir Keid said he’ll handle it.“ Miroh replied assuredly.

Ayla squint her eyes knowingly. “Tell me honestly. You just don’t want to tell her yourself, right?”

Miroh froze before laughing airily. “You’re right. I can’t tell her about you right? She’s very perceptive, so it’s better this way.” He hummed, nodding to himself.

Ayla blinked before patting his back. Keid is really great in picking allies by their character. “You’re a good kid.”

“What the heck? You’re merely months older than me!”

“Let’s do our best here, my accomplice.” Ayla stated. Something important is brewing outside this place but until then, they better make the most of their time here.

Her face still shows a look of composure, but her words ignited a fire in Miroh that made his blood pumped in excitement.

Miroh grinned widely, causing his eyes to brighten up like the forging of emeralds. “That’s a given. I’ll get out of here as the best among the rest!”

Let’s use this opportunity well. So what if he’s an unremarkable knight? The person before and right now is different because of experience!

The sight of people gathering seemingly attracted to something caught their attention across their path. Their footsteps slowed as Ayla linger behind the crowd.

The sun had already set, painting the entire training field a deep orange. Just hours ago they were being boiled alive under the sun right there. The heat wave had already calmed down and the breeze finally brought in cooler air.

Ayla and Miroh both meet up after taking a quick bath in their respective rooms to take the sweat and dirt off before setting off for dinner.

"Amazing! How long has it been...five hours?"

“What kind of food do outsiders eat to get have that stamina?!”

“I heard she ate a bell pepper in front of demon instructor.”

“What the fuck? What kind of reason is that?! And why bell pepper?”

“Whoo! Go, bell pepper girl!”

“Hey! Do one more lap so I win the bet!”

The girl, Saterina, made two staggering steps before finally succumbing to fatigue and collapsing on the dirt. Some of them grumbled under their breath before giving their money to the people who won the bet reluctantly.

Most of the people immediately left after the interest wanes, leaving some stragglers at the side arguing about the betting money.

A female recruit noticed the two of them leaning on the railings, eyeing their group and approached them in a friendly way. “Hi! Who are you? I didn’t heard your name earlier.”

“My name is Miroh from Keziah. And Ayla. We’re from the same hometown.” Miroh introduced himself then pointed to tight lipped Ayla at the side, who was watching Saterina taking too long to get up.

Everybody gave us varied looks of awe and shock. Ayla now had first hand experience being at the receiving end of such looks. This was expected every time Miroh introduce himself.

“Does that mean you were there on that day?" A recruit piped up carefully as if afraid that mentioning it will cause it to happen right there.

However, there are also some who were more intrigued rather than fearful. Miroh recalled the guy with the shaved head leaned to him. “So, did you see it?" Yael asked obviously enthrall.

"The Charred Valkyrie.” Everybody’s tiny hairs rose up at the name that carries the meaning of calamity and death. Even hearing the name was like calling the entity itself.

The Charred Valkyrie.

It was name dubbed by the public after eyewitnesses detailed the Valkyrie’s appearance had red scalded skin as if actively being seared.

Miroh was momentarily taken aback before he shook his head. How can a child still worry about who destroyed the barrier tower? “No. I wasn’t able to see it because we were fleeing for our lives.”

They looked at each other awkwardly, pursing their lips. They realized how insensitive they were to ask about a traumatic experience from a stranger.

“Hey man, I’m sorry I got carried away.” Yael started, rubbing his nape apologetically.

"What's that?" Ayla leaned over the railings, pointing somewhere. This successfully divert their attention.

The group all turned to where she was pointing, seeing people lining up while being guided into wagons. Some of the wagons were already moving out of the training camp.

"Dropouts. They asked to be transferred out of the training camp to plant crops instead." A recruit explained to Ayla.

"Really? But it's only the first day?" A recruit voiced out in disbelief.

"The superiors already expected something like this. They said it repeatedly. People without strength has no place in here." Ayla remarked quietly. Fortunately, nobody heard her except Miroh.

They will encounter a lot of tests like this in the following days from now. More people will probably follow after those people out of here.

"Oi! Recruits, hurry to the mess hall. Food will be gone in a second." A voice hollered somewhere.

"We should get inside. Temperature drop drastically during evenings." A recruit suggested softly, which everyone agreed.

“What about her?” Miroh piped up, gesturing to the girl still lying on her stomach on the field.

“What’s that got to do with me?”

“Ah. Hurry, we’ll get beaten by others for the food!”

People display their annoyance at Miroh’s words, leaving them away. In their mind, what happens to her that she had done to herself is out of their concern. It was a trait that is apparent to everyone.

That individualistic nature of man in the face of self-preservation had already caused a lot of deaths in the military. Every time humans proves they are terrible than any animal in the world.

Only five concerned figures remained and approach the passed out comrade. Different from the earlier rowdy, the scene had quieten a lot except the occasional sound of leaves rustling.

“Is she dead?” Neil, who Ayla vaguely remembered from earlier, asked fearfully while peering over her body.

“She’s sleeping.” Dotr held his finger over her nose to feel any signs of breathing.

“Should we take her in the infirmary?” The person from earlier, Yael asked, scratching his head hesitantly.

“Um, excuse me. Do you know her?” A soft voice asked hesitantly behind Ayla.

They turned around to see a girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes carrying a first aid kit. “I brought some rehydrating fluids and plasters from the infirmary.” It was like the personification of spring blooms within her smile.

‘An angel…’

Beside her is a tall woman with coarse black hair wearing a tough and unbothered expression. They assume they were familiar with each other at the get go.

Noticing the stares trained on her, her eyes widen in fluster and immediately introduced their names. “Please call me Haedi. And she’s Pola. We saw the situation earlier so we thought to drop by if we can help.”

Everyone also introduced themselves positively after judging that the newcomers doesn’t have any malice.

“Wow, you both are good people.” Yael placed a hand on his chest. He was moved by the sudden goodwill after getting verbally scarred by the demon instructor earlier. Surely, not everyone in this world is an asshole!

While they were talking behind, Ayla had crouched down and began poking Saterina’s cheek. That action must have disturbed her dream as her expression pinched up and began murmuring incoherently. “Meat…don’t touch…mine…”

Ayla’s brows furrowed at the sight of thin streak of saliva below the girl’s chin. It was safe to say she was well on her dreamland and was just fine.

“No, no, we just wanted to help a fellow comrade as much as we can.” Haedi then lowered her eyes with a sad smile, “it’s better to help someone if they can so everyone can live.”

“AH, MY STEAK!”

Saterina suddenly sat up like a resurrected dead with a frazzled look seemingly shaken from her sleep. However, that singly burst of energy quickly dissipate and the pain came back to shake her core, causing her to lie back on the ground indiscriminately.

“Fuck, my body hurts so much! I swear I’ll rob that officer’s pantry tomorrow!”

Ayla’s mouth twitched with an incredulous expression. Her body was twitching in pain, but her mouth is still working hard in spouting crap behind the instructor.

“Looks like she’s fine.” Miroh remarked in relief. However, Neil looked like his soul was about to leave his body, coaxing Saterina to shut her mouth in case anybody heard her.

“We should still put her in the infirmary just in case.” Yael suggested.

“Whose gonna carry her?” Ayla finally made her presence known and piped up, dusting off her pants as she stood up.

Everybody’s sight immediately trained on to the tallest and strongest looking person in the group.

Dotr sighed then bended his knees and easily carried Saterina in his arms. “Okay. Let’s go the infirmary.“

“Wait, what about my dinner!?”

“I have rehydrating fluids with me!”

“Woman, stop moving so much!”

“Fuck! I got a cramp! I got a cramp! My calves!”

‘You would think they knew each other for a long time…’

"Hey Ayla, aren't you coming with us?" Miroh looked back to see Ayla hadn’t move yet. Their classmates’ lively voices quite faint now.

She only noticed it now but the sunset here is way different from the border.