Strategical Questions

It seemed days passed by in a blur as Ezra started familiarizing himself with the academy. Slowly, he found his place, getting used to the rhythm of daily life and the expectations that came with it.

He had somehow managed to get closer to his roommates, Asli and Silas, and though they were still distant in their own ways, there was a subtle shift. They were warming up to him, just a little.

The chatter and the gossip about rowan's win still hadn't died down as students were still gossiping makenit the highlight of their day.

The first class of the day was combat, a subject that, despite its importance, was divided into four subtopics, each taught by a different teacher. Hand-to-hand combat, strategy, weapon handling, and survival.

Ezra found the subject incredibly boring, especially compared to the others. He had yet to start lore, and when he asked around, students just mumbled, saying it wasn't really important. They claimed the teacher didn't take it seriously, a drunkard with a foul mouth.

He asked Asli about it, but the answer was more or less the same. Asli just shrugged, saying he didn't even know the class existed.

The teacher stood at the front of the class, his gaze sweeping over the students. The room was filled with an air of indifference, and for a moment, everything felt like it was about to break into chaos. The teacher paused, allowing the silence to stretch a bit longer before he spoke.

"What is the essence of battle?" he asked, his voice low but commanding.

Ezra thought for a moment, trying to wrap his head around the question. What did battle truly mean? He had read about it, seen movies, and heard legends of warriors and kings, but here—at Blackspire—was it different? Was it more than just the clash of swords and shields?

Finally, one of the students spoke up, his voice cutting through the quiet room, confident and sure of himself. "The essence of battle is survival," he said. "It's about understanding your enemy, exploiting weaknesses, and using everything you have to come out alive. It's not just about strength—it's about strategy, endurance, and adapting to whatever the situation throws at you."

The teacher nodded, his eyes gleaming with approval.

"Exactly," the teacher said, his voice carrying more weight now. "Battle isn't just about sheer strength or violence. It's about survival, understanding the terrain, the people, and the situation at hand. Strategy, endurance, and adaptation are key. A true warrior doesn't simply fight—they think, they adapt, they learn. Every move in battle can lead to victory or defeat. Remember, it's not always the strongest who wins, but the one who best understands the art of war."

He paused, letting his words sink in, letting the weight of them rest on the students' shoulders. Ezra's mind began to process the deeper meaning of the lesson, but he knew he needed to focus more on the practical side of things to truly understand it.

The teacher's voice grew more intense as he shifted the topic to something more complex.

"Now, let's take it further. How do you apply the essence of battle when you're faced with a situation like this—enemy troops are approaching, and you're in a position where you must make a hasty decision. You're confronted with a difficult choice: Do you sacrifice the lives of civilians to ensure the safety of your soldiers, or do you prioritize your soldiers, risking the lives of the innocent? What do you do?"

The class fell silent, each student lost in their thoughts. The weight of the question hung in the air like a dense fog. The teacher paced slowly in front of the class, his eyes scanning the room, assessing every student's reaction.

"The second scenario," the teacher went on, "is a bit more tactical. Imagine you're out in the field, and you have enemy soldiers crossing a rough terrain near your position. You have the option to either ambush them or avoid confrontation. You know an ambush would guarantee a victory, but it would also give away your position, possibly leading to greater losses down the line. If you avoid them, you risk giving them the advantage later when they've crossed into your territory."

He stopped and turned to the class, his gaze cold and calculating.

"What do you do?" he asked, his voice like ice. "What's your move? Do you risk civilian lives? Do you go for the ambush, even if it's dangerous? Or do you bide your time, weighing the risks?"

"Remember," the teacher continued, "battle is about survival, yes, but it's also about responsibility. You have to think about your choices, not just react. That's the key to success. So, who's going to step up and tell me how they would handle these situations?"