Inside Stokil

The battle-axe seemed to be even better than it was before when Ares came with it to Stokil's gates. Before, it was stained with blood and dirty with soil. The grip was very worn out as well. And, what was more concerning, some runes were disappearing from the axe due to the constant use and lack of proper maintenance.

"Wow! My axe!" He celebrated after he looked at that weapon for a while, just to be sure if he wasn't dreaming again.

That axe meant the world for him. It was the only thing that was left from his life before the incident with the Phoenix. That weapon made him feel closer to his father as well, he felt safer and stronger when holding it.

"Thank you for bringing it to me...", he said, a bit ashamed for treating that Guardian so badly.

"Don't worry. Orders are orders. Thank the Colonel later. She made an exception to you and allowed you to wield a weapon, even though you aren't a Novice yet."

Ares nodded to him.

'Well, it will depend whether this Colonel is a jackass or not... But I think that we will get along well with each other, anyway, so there is no problem in thanking them afterward.'

"Now, Ares, take anything that you may need in this room. If you don't have any belongings here, follow me. I will show you the dormitory of the trainees. There are also a lot of other rules about Stokil that must be followed strictly, and if you don't do so, you will go to the Dungeon and stay there for God knows how much time. However, since there are just some days left until the exam, there is no need to tell you these rules now. Let's leave it for when you become a Novice."

Ares nodded to him.

Isaac noticed that he didn't move an inch from the place where he was, so there was nothing there that he needed to take.

He walked out of the break room and went to the other side of the wall.

Ares didn't leave the break room during that weak and a half, so he never imagined that he was inside the walls, literally, all that time.

'So, they built that thing in the insides of the wall... Seems efficient. It is right beside the gates, so the guards will be ready even in their break if something happens.'

Once Ares left that claustrophobic place and went to what was, in fact, the Stokil Fortress from beyond the walls, he got amazed.

That place was simply too big. He never thought that they would make so many things in a fortress built only to protect the main passage to the west of human's domains.

Of course, he wasn't familiar with the structure of fortresses in general, so he didn't have any idea of how a fortress was in its insides. For him, the only things that he could think of were walls and nothing else in the middle of it. But, actually, that place could mix something like a city, with a training ground for soldiers, and a military place for defense.

"There are several dormitories disposed on the west of Stokil, together with bars, markets, and some other leisure places. In the east are the training grounds; you can see race tracks, arenas, equipment to work out, and territories to simulate risk situations. In the north is the base of operation and most of the armament to defend the fortress, also as the Front Wall, where several bastions are placed as well; it is the protective core of the fortress and where the Guardians most work. The south is where we are now. Got it?" The man explained quickly to him.

Ares just looked to all those new things as if he was seeing the most extraordinary thing of his life.

In truth, for someone who lived until his fourteen years old inside a village, well-structured big places like Stokil Fortress were something like a utopia.

The Guardian saw in Ares' eyes that he wanted to explore more of that place, but he prevented him to do so.

"I know that you are willing to see more things, but not yet, Ares. The Colonel ordered me to take you right away to the dormitories. You will have plenty of time to explore Stokil Fortress if you can become a Novice."

Ares made a disappointed face once hearing that. In truth, he wanted to go to the training grounds and see what the others were doing, but it wouldn't be possible, not at that moment, at least.

'Damn... I want so hard to train... I hope that I can get better soon and have, at least, one day of a full workout to get the hang of it.'

Ares followed the Guardian towards the west, where the dormitories were placed. There were several buildings with different identifications, but for the time being, they weren't important for Ares. The one that really mattered was the smaller one, which was in the far left of that complex of buildings.

"This is the dormitory of the trainees. It is the smallest one because there are just fourty trainees per year. Some rules are specially made for the dormitories, and these the Colonel ordered me to tell you: First, don't make extremely loud noise; Second, don't fight against yourselves, unless it is a competition of some sort that is allowed by the coordinator of the dormitory; Third, don't invade the girl's division, since you are a boy; Fourth, come in the exact time of each meal, otherwise, you won't eat anything. The other rules are common sense and you will learn it with the other trainees. Good luck, Ares."

Isaac bowed slightly to him and turned his back, walking away.

'Won't he make my acquaintance with the other trainees? Should I do it myself?' The boy got confused.

'Well, maybe it is my choice. I prefer not to do it, anyway.'

Ares adjusted the battle-axe in his back and held the package tightly.

'Remember, Ares... Each person inside this dormitory will be your enemy. Don't low your guard,' he thought as he stepped forward and opened the entrance door.