Barracks

Morning came without him noticing it and the sun's rays helped him realize that the moment he waited for has arrived. He jolted as he realized that he overslept and had to go to the barracks.

Without delays, he went out of his room and then hastily stepped down the stairs. Approaching the counter then handed the key to his room then paid the price for a night.

Checking out of the Inn and went outside. Looking at the nearest stall, he smelled roasted food and went salivating with just the smell.

Approaching, he saw kinds of roasted food under a tent. And so he bought it, he saw a piece of ham and thought it was nice to eat while he was traveling towards his destination.

He asked for the price and the one who cooks said that it was two silvers. He paid the price with only one silver left on his coin pouch.

The village then resumed its daily lives and more people were outside. Troan ran towards the barracks while swimming through the crowd.

He was headed east of the village where the barracks were located. The citadel that protects them was seen towering above. Still burning its lights with a spell inside it.

The houses that were clustered together, were now slightly spaced out. The citizens now were fewer. As he traveled towards the barracks on foot, he saw several kids his age who wanted to be Paladin.

They ushered their moms or dads to be one. Troan felt lucky being offered a recommendation himself from a Paladin himself.

Though that caused him to experience the forest of trial. Still, it was worth it. He can have confidence in himself a bit and can say not all can survive what he experienced. Especially from kids of his age.

After a couple of minutes of passing by several houses, he arrived at the barracks thirsty. He hadn't drank a single drop of water from the start of his running till now.

Panting, he took a breather and slouched while crouching. He then saw numerous kids like him who were sparring with each other.

The barracks only have a wall that covers the small open field for training and a small two-story building as their outpost or office.

Several legitimate Paladins were observing the potential recruits and it made the young ones show off. Others thought that it would raise their chance of looking good at them.

Numerous applicants wanted to be Paladins. That shows how many were present as of now on the field. Kids his age and others were older.

They sparred in pairs and then defeated their opponents. Others shout with every strike to garner attention while others beat up their opponents. Further being stopped by the Paladins themselves.

Troan watched them all while eating his roasted ham. Biting it off while chewing. It was salty and was cured in a brine solution.

Further making the saltiness heightens the flavors applied to the meat. He then finished eating but felt like drinking water. His throat was screaming for a glass of cold water at the moment.

Troan then went to approach an intimidating Paladin. He politely asked him for a glass of water. He then went gloomy and his eyes bulged.

He scoffed in disgust at what he said then he grabbed his bastard sword on his back. It was then, that Troan grabbed his hands and gave him a piece of silver.

Troan then asked for a glass of water and everyone halted their spar. Watching him in the process. The Paladin then chuckled and laughed out loud. He knew a piece of silver was too much for a glass of water.

The Paladin then went to find water and Troan used the opportunity to find a sack. Sneaking around the place, he found the storehouse of the barracks. But he saw that it was guarded.

And so, he went to the back and saw that it had an exhaust on its top. Troan climbed the walls of the storehouse and then went to grab the wooden protruding wooden slabs.

He then arrived on the top and broke through the exhaust.

Entering the place, it was dark. Luckily he was adept at sneaking into the darkness and his eyes adjusted.

Making him see into the darkness in just several seconds. He saw that he was on the second story of the storehouse which has stairs at the bottom.

The rattling of rats sounded in the darkness. There were many sacks and crates arranged inside. Dried salmon and even spices worth several silvers.

Even a gold coin was not enough to buy everything that was inside. Looking at it, he saw round cheese and some were sacks of salt. There were also sacks of apples and other vegetables.

To his surprise, he found one empty and then tied it with rope in its mouth. Well, he was a thief after all.

The Paladin then went to find him and then, he arrived just on time. Without any hint of them missing something inside their storehouse. He gave him a glass of water and Troan received it with both hands. He happily drank it.

It was then, that Gerald arrived. The kids then watched him in awe. They admired him as he was like a hero figure to them.

In the past, he was able to kill numerous dark fellowship cultists that attacked the village. Saving numerous villagers in the process. Making him a local hero or sort.

Those cultists abduct children and others then brainwash them to become converts to their religion. Troan's memories knew their past activities and they were established since the two worlds connected. Even so, they were weak in the past. It was so surprising that they became stronger and stronger each passing time. Maybe a lesser evil was at play in their growth.

'Nasty cultists,' Troan scoffed.

It was then, that Troan was called and approached by Gerald. Others were seen with jaws dropping in their mouths. They felt jealousy arise in their hearts. Also seeing a beggar in sackcloth get close to their hero was aggravating. They deemed him unworthy of his presence and was a foul creature in their eyes.

"Did you rest well?" Gerald asked.

"Yep,"

"Good! Well, I will start the exam shortly,"

"Okay okay, just go away. I am garnering unwanted attention here, I hate to be the target of jealousy the most. Can I shoo you now?" Troan said as he gestured.

Gerald can only chuckle at him.

It was then, that another Paladin rounded them up and called for their attention. Gerald talked with him a bit and then they started the exam.

"Okay, everyone! We will start the application test now. We will only accept ten applicants! Is that clear? Now with your number only twenty, we will pair you with two. The winners will be accepted immediately," he said while having a paper in his hands.

The applicants then felt excited. They felt that they were confident in their capabilities and Troan just sat on the side. He put his rucksack beside the weapon rack and hid it with a cloth.

They grabbed their weapons and Troan too, with a wooden short sword in his hands. All were wooden and just for the sake of a spar. As for the pairings, they were all interested in beating Troan. They all flocked to him.

All have been paired and Troan was paired with a showy but decent kid on sparring. He was the favorite of the drill instructors of their barracks. Making it complicated on Troan's side. With a few swings and stretches, Troan was warmed up.

"I will do the honor of beating you up. For the sake of the aching hearts, you have made,"

"Oh, sure!" Troan replied.

"Prepare now thief! You will face judgment!"

"Please do your best child!" Troan yelped.

They soon readied with the match. Troan then made his stance, ready for what his enemy could offer.

"Ready go!" the drill instructor shouted.

"Ha!!!" his opponent shouted.

Stepping the dirt as he dashed towards him, he slashed diagonally and Troan rotated while moving sideways in the direction of the swing.

Troan then lifted his feet and kicked him with a back kick. The enemy was hit in the face and he groaned in anger. He roared as he slashed again with a combination of left and right swings.

Troan then evaded the first strike and blocked the second one. Kicking him with a front kick that was hit on the chest.

Troan was sleepy as to what the enemy could offer.

He casually evades the slashes of his enemy without even blinking once. The opponent was slightly stronger than him and so he focused on evading.

If he goes all out, then he will not have a chance. The enemy was infuriated with all his evades. Troan only kicked his feet and he lost balance every time.

Further making his annoyance to the brim. He wanted to look good on the Paladins but what was happening was the opposite. He only made Troan have more looking-good moments.

All their jealousy was carried on his shoulders and his responsibility was to defeat him. Further making him bite his lower lips as he was just being played around.

The opponent then roared toward him and gritted his teeth. Making his last attempts to finish him off.

Troan didn't know what to do. He pitied the opponent but he has to win the match. He thought of beating the opponent harshly but it will take more effort and stamina.

If he wanted to make him experience the pain he felt in the forest of trials or even the pain of being stoned. He won't stand for a minute.

Although, it was unneeded to win. He could defeat him more efficiently and in a not-so-tiring way. Made him breathe deep then decided to make it quick.

The enemy approached him at great speed, he slashed him with a horizontal slash but Troan ducked. He stabbed him in the abdomen with the hilt of his sword and kicked both his feet.

Making him trip and land on the ground face first. Troan then put the tip of the wooden sword on his back.

"Surrender, you don't need to be beaten up so badly," Troan said to him.

He curled while on the ground. The enemy can't stomach his attack on his solar plexus. Further making the pain in his stomach worsen with more time that passed. He can't breathe normally thus makes him surrender.