Recruitment Camp

I come back home and allow myself to sleep a couple of hours, even tho I fail completely due to the adrenaline.

I... A woman... Got accepted into the army!

If anyone ever told me this before, I would have laughed.

...

I wake up hearing loud speaking outside, so I quickly dress up and leave my room

-What is happening...?-

-Ah Young Miss! Your mother is not feeling well and we have guests too! I'm sorry I can't stay here to talk- says the servant running away

-My mother...?-

I head to garden, where the noise seems to be stronger, and find my mother fanning herself.

She's completely colourless on the face meanwhile my father is trying to make her drink some tea

-What a shame what a shame dear! Our family is doomed!- she yells as I approach

-Mother, father... What's happening?-

-Oh just in time!- she points her fan towards me quite angrily -Do you even know how much you ruined this family?! You were such a good girl once! What the hell happened for you to be such a failure?!

Since Lord Hu Lao retired his marriage proposal you have been nothing but a disgrace!-

-Come on now, Ping... She hasn't done anything bad-

-Hasn't.. What...?!- she stare at him with her open mouth before yelling again -Not only she said all that stupid nonsense in front of everyone at the plaza! She even got into the army!

She! A woman! W O M A N!

This is a disgrace for our gender... And what's even more, she did all of that while being unmarried!-

-Mother... This is something I'm proud of. Not many men would have been able to do what I did yesterday night-

-Men, exactly. it is disgusting for a woman to even compare to them!

It's not in our nature to do such things! We can't and we must not!

Couldn't you just marry whoever and spoil me with children like everyone?! Is it too much to ask?-

And this is the moment where I reach my limit...

-You really are a stupid woman...

Not everyone points so low in their life! I'm tired of this ok?! I hate this stupid future, I am not a pleasure doll without a brain! I want more from life than being useless and silly like you!

You talk about disgrace? YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO INTELLIGENCE!- I yell, leaving her completely shocked and full of tears, she looks like a mad woman now

-I finally said that...- I take a deep breath, finally realizing what just happened -It feels amazing...- I murmur smiling, before continuing my speech in a calmer voice

-I would bring more honor to our family offering my life to save this nation, than giving birth to a spoiled brat in a forced marriage... Who would benefit from that anyway? You only.

I prefer learning something as difficult as war strategy than how to pour tea... And with my own hands...- I show her my palms

-...I killed wolves, bears and tigers even, menacing to hurt peoples in our village... I can save lives mother!

Just yesterday I saved the production of rice in our village... If this year we will eat during the winter is because of that, I suppose the people are more thankful for that instead of me giving birth-

-She... She what...?- My mother trembles before fainting in my father arms

-My daughter... I won't stop you, as long as you are happy I am too...

I wouldn't want you spend your life with remorse because of us.- he looks behind me where a General is waiting on the door

-Go now my daughter, and come back victorious-

-I will-

...

Arrived at the camp they divide us in different sections, Nobles with one General and commoners with the other. Meanwhile everyone who already received training got called to arms a couple of months before...

Through all the time I keep receiving curious stares and hear peoples mocking me with low voices.

As I was tiying my boots I heard a group of low ranked nobles talking without any shame

-She's just a girl... Probably in her rebellious age, after one day of training she will run away crying-

-And when that day will come, I'll be more than glad to take her in my arm and "comfort" her hahaha!- he says mimicking a thrusting movement with his hands

-As if a woman would look at you! She's just here to have some free time before marriage, probably her father paid the Instructors to go easy on her-

-Ah, Women are all the same... They just need a man to pay for them and fill em up, anyone is good!-

I turn my head to look at them -Disgusting...- I murmur standing back up

-Hahah you made her angry- -Idiot! her father will kill you if he founds out-

I approach them -He won't... I will, if I hear you one more time-

-And how? Hahaha seweing wrong our socks?-

-No of course, she will be biting you when you shove it into her mouth! Hahah-

-Well at least she will shut up with it in her mouth!-

I slightly laugh along them -Really funny, my comrades... Now let's get to the real talk- I take out my sword from behind my back -Who is up first?-

-Hahah She really think she can fight us?!- laughs even more a guy on the side

-If you think I can't then come and prove me wrong, oh you superior creature!- I rise an eyebrow amused

-We are nobles and men! You will only get hurt, stop playing for your own good-

-Sure sure, enough talking... Can we start now?- I roll my sword in anticipation

-This little... Gh!- yell one throwing himself foward, I just slightly scrape his shoulder dodging. Once he's behind me, I turn to hit his neck with the hilt of my sword making him faint on the spot

-Weak... Who's next?-

-Prepare to fight seriously princess- says one guy coming foward

-That's actually what I'm looking for you know? We're supposed to DEFEND this country-

-Hahaha fool!- he comes forwards aiming for my head, I rise the sword making the metal of our blades clang and fake trembling

-Oh... You really are a strong man... Maybe... I was wrong afterall...-

-Hahaha see guys?! I told you she would be able to win!- He says looking back at his friends

-Ha! You really thought I was serious?!- I push him back sending his sword flying and he fall on his back

I lower my sword on his chest and press my food on his abdomen -I was just pleasing your ego... Isn't that what women are meant for, uh?

First rule is to never look away and you can't even do that much... You'll be dead as soon as you set foot on the battlefield- I say smirking

-You are completely crazy!- he yells

-Awn... Are you scared perhaps? I thought you wanted to comfort me but apparently you can't even comfort yourself- I release him and he runs away

-Mad woman!-

-Sure I am... What about you guys? Wanna spar a bit?-

-N no...!- the crowd formed slowly dissemble leaving me there alone, I put back the sword and tie my hair

-Miss Ying! Fighting is prohibited inside the camps!-

-I was just testing them Sir...

Oh and by the way, they are too weak... Need some intense training Colonel or this country is doomed-

I say cleaning my hands from the dust, walking away.

After a bit of warm up training we begin our journey, all the nobles will be staying at the Capital in the Royal camps... For some "elite" training.

It is not an elite at all... More like a privileged useless training which will never be actually used on the battlefield, just so all these boys will be the representative for the real warriors at the feasts and banquets...

I need to find a way to be sent onto the battlefield as soon as possible.